"bv* • "^ V* £**. ^°^ f ^ *' * aV* O rt >* „o The Hall-mark of Quality D rL sty? art lEttfoitfp? July, 1915 Number 1 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. GIFT AUTHOR SEP 8 'a A MESSAGE TO OUR INDUSTRIAL FAMILY. From the "G. M." Many firms and corporations publish so- called house organs. Some are intended to reach the trade, others to reach only their employees. Many times I have^asked myself the question, would a house organ (so called) have any value for the members of our indus- trial family. There are many such publica- tions but few, it has seemed to me, have a real value and I have often wondered if they were worth their cost. I do not remember ever to have seen just such a publication as I have had in mind, which was intended only for the employees, but the thought has grown on me that a house organ which had a purpose, to reach perhaps not all the employees at first, but the Mana- gers, Assistant Managers, Superintendents, Ass't Superintendents, Salesmen, Foremen and the more prominent employees in the offices and factories, might be worth while. What might be called, if you please, the line and staff officers of our industrial family. Later this list could be extended to include such others as might express a desire to be included, and my hope would be that many would so desire. This publication should not be a collection of gossip. It should say something worth while. One issue might be short and another long, and nothing in it should ever be written simply to fill space and it should not be issued at all unless it had a helpful message. I do not think its issue must of necessity be regular, though regularity of issue might have some advantages; one month there might be one issue and another month two issues and the next month perhaps none at all. It might not always deal entirely or directly with the commercial business of the company. In fact, I can conceive of such a publication as having a distinct value just to take a person's thought, for the time being, away from the business of the company and make him think of something beside the shop. For example, such letters as I wrote home on my trip to South America in 1913, and as Mr. Wm. 0. Day has just written from New Orleans, San Antonio, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Seattle, etc., would find a place in such a publication and would have an interested circle of readers. I do not think I can better describe just what I have had in mind for a number of years, than to repeat a conversation which I had with a gentleman some four or five years ago. I was asked to join an organiza- tion, and declined, saying I belonged to too many organizations now, and I was not going to join any more. But I said I would like to belong to an aggregation (which is different from an organization) which has no Presi- dent, Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Direc- tors, no annual meeting or annual dues, com- posed of say about a dozen or fifteen kindred souls, each one of whom would, if he had A MESSAGE TO OUR INDUSTRIAL FAMILY. From the "G. M." Many firms and corporations publish so- called house organs. Some are intended to reach the trade, others to reach only their employees. Many times I have asked myself the question, would a house organ (so called) have any value for the members of our indus- trial family. There are many such publica- tions but few, it has seemed to me, have a real value and I have often wondered if they were worth their cost. I do not remember ever to have seen just such a publication as I have had in mind, which was intended only for the employees, but the thought has grown on me that a house organ which had a purpose, to reach perhaps not all the employees at first, but the Mana- gers, Assistant Managers, Superintendents, Ass't Superintendents, Salesmen, Foremen and the more prominent employees in the offices and factories, might be worth while. What might be called, if you please, the line and stafj officers of our industrial family. Later this list could be extended to include such others as might express a desire to be included, and my hope would be that many would so desire. This publication should not be a collection of gossip. It should say something worth while. One issue might be short and another long, and nothing in it should ever be written simply to fill space and it should not be issued at all unless it had a helpful message. I do not think its issue must of necessity be regular, though regularity of issue might have some advantages; one month there might be one issue and another month two issues and the next month perhaps none at all. It might not always deal entirely or directly with the commercial business of the company. In fact, I can conceive of such a publication as having a distinct value just to take a person's thought, for the time being, away from the business of the company and make him think of something beside the shop. For example, such letters as I wrote home on my trip to South America in 1913, and as Mr. Wm. 0. Day has just written from New Orleans, San Antonio, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Seattle, etc., would find a place in such a publication and would have an interested circle of readers. I do not think I can better describe just what I have had in mind for a number of years, than to repeat a conversation which I had with a gentleman some four or five years ago. I was asked to join an organiza- tion, and declined, saying I belonged to too many organizations now, and I was not going to join any more. But I said I would like to belong to an aggregation (which is different from an organization) which has no Presi- dent, Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Direc- tors, no annual meeting or annual dues, com- posed of say about a dozen or fifteen kindred souls, each one of whom would, if he had seen a picture, heard a sermon or a lecture, had taken a walk or been fishing or hunting, heard a good story, had read a book, a poem or a newspaper or magazine article, would think of me and say — "That would interest Mr. Logan ; I will write him a letter calling atten- tion to it." I would like to belong to that kind of an aggregation. With such a publication any. member of our industrial family who had read a book, news- paper or magazine article which had inter- ested him or who felt moved to write, could bring his thoughts to the attention of the other members of our family, such a pub- lication would, it seems to me, be worth while. About a year ago, by chance, I became ac- quainted with a man who was doing just that thing. I have so far never met him, though we have written one another a dozen times within a year. He is about thirty years of age. In his early youth he was intended for the priesthood, but when almost ready to enter the priesthood said: "No, that is not to be my field of labor." Why this decision? I do not know. I do not know that he himself knows, but he stopped and did not enter the priesthood. He is evidently a man of fine feeling and through all his writing there runs a strain of the spiritual (which we need today, the spiritual is in large measure too often crowded out of our lives by the commercial), and we need the spiritual to keep us true to the course. This man's writing is so perfectly natural that the spiritual seems never out of place, and there is in all his writing "an accent as of Galilee." All his work, like all of ours, is not of the same quality — it bears the mark of human imperfection. That is, perhaps, why it appeals to us; because it is human and bears the hall - mark of the human — if it were perfect, it might be beyond us. He has, as I understand it, a mailing list of perhaps thirty or forty men, all busy men and mostly men who are leaders in their particular fields of work, and to them he some- times writes, when the spirit moves, but not when it don't. How do I know? Because he has sometimes written me and has sent me carbons of his letters to other men. I under- stand he gets no money for the service, but he gets from some men letters which money could not buy, which give him a larger out- look on the problems of life, and from those letters he often gets uplift and inspiration for his work and a view from a new angle of vision. I met, recently at a luncheon, a man from Detroit, Michigan, who is Henry Ford's personal publicity man; and as we ate our lunch I showed him a carbon of a letter which I had just received from this man, written to a friend of mine, who had been burning the candle at both ends; and when I named the man who wrote the letter he said — "Why, he writes to our Mr. — " naming a man who is one of the prominent men in the manage- ment of the Ford Company. I give you below a copy of the letter re- ferred to above. I call it a gem: "Feb. 24, 1915. "Dear Mr. T.: "Under the glass on my desk over at the office (I am writing this at home), there is a little Eastern saying which was given me by my secretary one day when the gods seemed a bit unkind. She gave me a type- written copy with a thick red-pencil border around it. I give it to you because there may be times when it will help you as it has already helped me. "THE DOG BARKS, BUT THE CARAVAN PASSES ON. "And I have just been reading another eastern story of a king who wanted a legend emblazoned upon his royal shield which would stand for all time and apply to all things mortal. The wise men of the kingdom failed to find what was wanted. After some years a humble shepherd voiced a phrase which served. Brought into the court, he was for a moment amazed at the glitter of it all. But when asked to speak his thoughts he said: "AND THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS AWAY. "Today I learned that a young friend of mine, whose rise in business had been most rapid, is down in Florida trying to recover from a nervous breakdown. I thought then, as I think now, of that old question: "WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT A MAN THAT HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL. "Success in business, money in the bank, the record of great achievements, the repu- tation of one who has driven himself to the heights of fame in his chosen field, cannot compensate one for the loss of contentment of spirit. "Harriman is dead, and Morgan. And Napoleon. And Caesar. And Alexander. But the world goes on. 'Unless ye become as little children' and little children PLAY. I dare you to do the same. "(Signed) T. D." Such a letter might appear in one of our issues and many other worth-while things could find their way into such a publication. I believe there are few industrial organiza- tions in which a stronger or more friendly family feeling exists than in our company. It is a good spirit to conserve and I incline to the opinion that this would be a helpful instrumentality along the line suggested. I would have it of such a size and shape as to readily fit the pocket so that when received it would never be laid down, but would be immediately "pocketed" for a later reading. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry in the United States. Such a publication could be made the medium for carrying out a piece of work which has been in my mind for years; i. e., to write a brief historical sketch of the begin- nings of the envelope industry in this country. I have collected considerable data on that subject in regard to the constituent com- panies of the United States Envelope Co. True, such data is fragmentary and the record will be imperfect, for most of the early actors in the drama have long since passed from the stage and both legend and memory must be drawn upon for the story. It will be my aim- not to make this story lengthy, but to make it very personal, dealing with the lives of the men who blazed the trail for us, who came after them; a human document, rather than a statistical or literary effort. Makers of history do not usually write history. They are too busy to spend time recording that which to them form the com- monplace events in their lives. It has been truly said : History is a record of every day but yesterday and of every generation but the present. Yesterday is so near to us that we do not usually consider its events as having more than a passing interest, but the events of yesterday and the day before are the foundations upon which we build today and upon which we will build tomorrow, and when we get far enough away from today, then, as we look back, we will find that the events of yesterday and the day before are of vital interest because they have been the foundation upon which all the future tomorrows will be reared. History is always made twice, first in the rough by the people, who do things, but they do not know their work by that name; and second, by those who come later, i. e., the story tellers, poets, journalists and historians, who arrange the facts in order to bring out their significance. Someone has said that history is always dependent on two things, curiosity and love. Only a country whose peo- ple love it and are curious about its past can have a history, for only in response to that love and curiosity will the facts be collected, arranged and interpreted, and so we would apply this thought to our industry. I have loved the envelope business and will be glad, as a labor of love, to record some fragments of its early history with reminiscences of the early pioneers. This early history of the envelope business ought to be preserved, at least as much of it as it is possible to preserve, and it will only be preserved by those who know it and are willing to give the time and thought necessary to preserve it, and do it now. Some years ago a man in this country desired to obtain information concerning the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, but he was unable to find anything but the most fragmentary reports of that mighty under- taking by which one of the bands of steel which binds the east to the west was forged. The men who were doing that work were not members of historical societies and were too busy with other duties to write essays or books, and not many of them were by education fitted to do that kind of work. They were earning their daily bread, perform- ing their daily tasks, cutting through the mountains of the west, making the highway for industrial and commercial progress, and while they were not writing history they were doing something larger; thus, they were 10 making history, although they did not call their work by that name. Having finished their work, it has been left, and will be left, for the historian of the future who will come after them to collect and write up from the fragmentary data which they have left behind — _ the record of what they accomplished . The thing that lives in history is not the event — it is the written account of it that lives. And when the record of the other men's doings have been made, other men^will be inspired by the record of their deeds to try to do as large or larger things. A few years ago we celebrated in this coun- try the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of the steamboat. On that day in the distant and shadowy past, a certain man named Robert Fulton, of whom the world up to that time had heard but little, but of whom in later years the world was to hear much, and to whom the world is under an obliga- tion, which till the end of time can never be discharged, started up the Hudson River in a boat propelled by steam. And while there were quite a number of newspapers pub- lished in New York at that time, in a recent newspaper account of that day's work it was stated that only one of the newspapers made any reference to the matter whatever, and that one devoted less than a dozen lines to the affair. We needed the perspective of a hundred years to catch the full significance of what was done that day, and yet these men thought but little of the fact that they were making history, and the record of that eventful day's work which was to change 31 the ocean into a ferry crossing and make the nations of the world neighbors, would have been lost had it not been preserved by the historian. What a contribution to the future and what an honor to the past if in every city of our land the history of each separate invention and the history of the development of each industry could be intelligently and sympa- thetically written? But there would be chap- ters which would read not like a romance but like a tragedy, and yet we of today are not conscious of our debt to those men who laid the foundations on which we have been permitted to build because the historian has not yet written up the record ; and if it is not written now it never can be written, for soon all who have a knowledge of the beginnings will have passed to the great beyond. We need the historian to follow the doers of the world's work — to make the record of what has been done and the steps by which the advances have been made. But we are living in a busy, busy day, and the burden of the present with planning for the future crowds out the past and we hurry on. Indus- try is a modern institution and history has little to do with modern institutions. What an interesting story could be written about every industry in this country, and it would not be confined to things mechanical, for that word industry covers the whole range of human effort and the record would not be complete when the story had been told of the man who had invented or doubled 12 the output of the machine. That record would also tell of the man who, by intelligent study, had doubled the potato and grain crops — the man who had conquered this or that pest which destroyed the farmers' grain or fruit. The man who had improved the livestock of the nation and the man who by his studies in sanitation had decreased the death rate. These all have been indus- trious workers for the common good. They have been dreamers who have worked to make their dreams come true. _ Did you ever stop to consider what mental vision is? — that it is not the eye, but the mind, which sees. The engineer through the mind by faith — which the great apostle in that wonderful, that inspired, definition says is: "The substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen," saw the bridge which spans the river even before pencil had been put upon paper. In the realm of science men say: "The thing I am looking for is there," and with the eye of faith looking for it they find it. In like manner the inventor with the eye of faith sees the machine which is to lighten human toil; and so the bridge, the scientific discovery and the machine, are no longer visions, but realities. Then reaching down below the level of the^ machine, thousands have been lifted to a higher level for the inventive and construc- tive ability which makes possible the machine, never educates men and women down to operate it, but when once the machine has been invented and constructed then other men and women are educated up to operate the machine, and it is a distinct advance to that class of operatives. The studies of grammar, rhetoric, poetry and the ancient classics, were formerly referred to as the "Humanities," but the true students of the "Humanities" in our day are the men who are carrying on the work of the world which makes possible the advance of civiliza- tion. In their ranks are found the pioneers and pathfinders of commercial and indus- trial progress. The builders of railroads, bridges, ships, sewers, reservoirs, the inven- tors and builders of machinery, the men who are evolving new processes and methods of manufacture, and who are laboring to build up a better industrial system than the world has ever known before. These are the men who are to bring in the Kingdom of God on earth. They are the makers of history today and we believe they are to be increasingly so in the years to come. History in the past has been in large meas- ure chiefly a record of war and strife and most of the names which stand out promi- nently have been those of the great generals and admirals. But the things which make a people great are not the wars of destruction, but the quiet, orderly lives of the working men and women who are engaged in pro- ductive industry. It is industry which pro- vides the sinews from which comes national power which make nations both strong and great. A nation is not great through its gen- 14 erals who kill and destroy, but through its engineers, architects, preachers, teachers, business and professional men, and the great mass of honest, God-fearing men and women who do the work of the world, and a nation will be great just in proportion as all these classes are inspired with an ideal and are workers for the common good. After the present awful tragedy in Europe is ended and the nations of the world have taken an inventory of the losses of war, not measured by material standards of value, but in terms of blood, suffering and sorrow, of wounds that can never heal, the nations of the earth may decide that war shall end and, in the words of Robert Burns, "Man to man the world o'er, Shall brithers be for a' that." While the rivers of Europe run red with the blood of the best and the bravest of the sons of earth, it requires imagination and faith to visualize such a picture today. If that day shall come, the history of the future will be the record of peaceful industry and the men whose names will be held in honor and loving remembrance will be those whose lives have been helpful to mankind, and who, out of the strain and stress of today, have made possible a better tomorrow; and the men who have been connected with our industry will have done their part in this work and the record of their work ought to be preserved. What would be more interesting or inspir- ing to us of today and to the men of the future than the record of the work of the men who laid the foundations of our industry? The inscription on the new Post Office building in Washington well describes the mission of the envelope: "Carrier of news and knowledge, Instrument of trade and industry, Promoter of mutual acquaintance, Of peace and good will among men and nations. "Messenger of sympathy and love, Servant of parted friends, Consoler of the lonely, Bond of the scattered family, Enlarger of the common life." We ought to feel honored to have a part in the production of such a messenger of good will among men. A Museum of the Envelope Industry. Not only should the story of the work of the pioneers be preserved, but so far as possi- ble examples of their handiwork should also be preserved; and with that end in view we are having erected in connection with the Logan, Swift & Brigham Envelope Co. Divi- sion, at Worcester, Mass., a building in which a room is to be set apart for a museum in which, so far as we are able, will be collected as many as possible of the old types of envel- ope machines which have served their day and have taken their places among the honored "has beens" of the envelope industry. I have been able to secure photographs of many of the pioneer inventors and manufac- turers in our industry, and while the record cannot be complete, it is my hope with the co-operation of the other members of our craft to make the record asxomplete as possi- ble. Photographs have also been secured of some of the earlier types of envelope machines, which have gone the way of all the works of man. Some eight years ago, before they were packed up and taken to the basement of the Patent office, I had photographs taken of all the envelope machine models in the Patent office at Washington, D. C. These photographs of both men, machinery and models it is our intention to have reproduced in enlarged form to adorn the walls of this museum which will be a "Hall of Fame" for the pioneers of the envelope industry. e In connection with the text of these brief historical sketches which are to be prepared, we will present reproductions of the photo- graphy of the men and machines which they loved into being. In some cases we will be able to show the factory buildings in which, in the day of smaller things, the life of our industry began. It is our intention to send copies of our publication, "The Red Envelope," which contain these historical sketches, to all manu- facturers of envelopes, with the hope that 17 if any of them have items of interest con- nected with the beginnings of the industry, that they will contribute them to the end that as much as possible of the history of the beginnings may be preserved. JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. 18 as many as possible of the old types of envel- ope machines which have served their day and have taken their places among the honored "has beens" of the envelope industry. I have been able .to secure photographs of many of the pioneer inventors and manufac- turers in our industry, and while the record cannot be complete, it is my hope with the co-operation of the other members of our craft to make the record as complete as possi- ble. Photographs have also been secured of some of the earlier types of envelope machines, which have gone the way of all the works of man. Some eight years ago, before they were packed up and taken to the basement of the Patent office, I had photographs taken of all the envelope machine models in the Patent office at Washington, D. C. These photographs of both men, machinery and models it is our intention to have reproduced in enlarged form to adorn the walls of this museum which will be a "Hall of Fame" for the pioneers of the envelope industry. In connection with the text of these brief historical sketches which are to be prepared, we will present reproductions of the photo- graphs of the men and machines which they loved into being. In some cases we will be able to show the factory buildings in which, in the day of smaller things, the life of our industry began. It is our intention to send copies of our publication, "The Red Envelope," which contain these historical sketches, to all manu- facturers of envelopes, with the hope that 17 if any of them have items of interest con- nected with the beginnings of the industry, that they will contribute them to the end that as much as possible of the history of the beginnings may be preserved. JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. 18 The Hall-mark of Quality November, 1915 Number 3 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Story of the Envelope by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER 1. In the preface to Andrew Carnegie's life of James Watt, he says: "When the publishers asked me to write the life of James Watt, I declined, stating that my thoughts were upon other matters. This settled the question, as I supposed, but in this I was mistaken. Why shouldn't I write the life of the discoverer of the steam engine, out of which I had made a fortune? Besides, I knew little of the history of the steam en- gine and of Watt himself, and the surest way to obtain knowledge was to comply with the publish- er's highly complimentary request. In short, the subject would not down, and finally I was compelled to write again, telling them that the idea haunted me, but if they still desired me to undertake it, I should do so with my heart in the task. I now know about the steam engine and have also had revealed to me one of the finest characters that ever graced the earth." For many years I have had it in mind to write for our industrial family a brief story of the beginnings of the envelope industry in the United States. In 1903-4-5 I collected considerable data bearing on the subject, but other matters, more pressing, demanded my time and thought, and so the matter for the time being had to be laid one side. In 1908-9-10-11 I served my. city as Mayor and had no time during those four years to devote to other subjects, and at the end of my term of service I was in no condition, phys- ically, to undertake the work. But the subject would not down. It kept coming back to me; and, like Mr. Carnegie, I have felt that I had to do the job and, like him, also, "my heart would be in the task." I know the record will be far from perfect, historically, for the data is fragmentary, as most of the early actors have long since passed from the stage and they left few records behind them, for they were not conscious that they were making history, and so both memory and legend must be drawn upon for the story. It will be my aim to make the story per- sonal, dealing with the lives and the work of the men who laid the foundations upon which we of a later generation have been permitted to rear the superstructure of our industry — to make the story a human document rather than a statistical or literary production. It has been a pleasure to look back into the past and become even slightly acquainted with some of these early pioneers who lived and wrought, and some of whom failed to reach their goal, but who, by their work, made possible the success of others, and to that extent they did not fail; and so we ought to hold their memory in honorable remembrance. The development of industry, as well as many other problems of life, is much like a game of baseball — the first important thing is to get to first base, and then second, and then third, but it is getting round to the home plate that counts in the final score. In base- ball a player sometimes reaches first base on a scratch hit, or on another player's error, then he gets to second on another player's sacrifice, i. e., a player who was willing to take the chances of being put out in order that the player on first base could get to second, and then he reaches the home plate, not because of exceptional work on his part, for he reached first base on a scratch hit, but because the man at the bat who "died at third" did a good piece of stickwork which permitted the base runner to bring in the run. The point I want to make is this : The work of the world is done not by the star players, playing for an individual record, but by teamwork; and so we should all be help- ful to one another, working for the common good, because we are all so dependent on one another and are all debtors to the men of the past. Recently in conversation with a gentleman possessed with a high grade of inventive talent, mechanical skill and business ability, a rare combination to find in one man, and who claimed for himself all the credit for what he had been able to accomplish, I tried to impress upon him the great truth which he and all of us are sometimes inclined to forget, i. e., that we are all debtors to the past, that the men away back in the dim and shadowy — yes, forgotten — past, who made the first wheel, gear, cam, spring and lever, helped to make possible the wonderful industrial devel- opment of the present, and they are today silent partners with us in all our enterprises, and even though they did not reach the goal of success, there is consolation in this thought : "For when the one great scorer comes To write against our name He writes not that you lost or won, But how you played the game." Grantland Rice. In these brief historical sketches of the beginnings of our industry I shall try to reset the stage with the atmosphere of the time it recalls and shall try to picture as best I may those early conditions and also try to repro- duce "verbal pictures" of the personality of the characters who played their parts, so that the present generation of those in our industry may count them among their friends. When was the Envelope Invented? The question is often asked, "when were envelopes invented?" and it was an epoch- making invention. No one can definitely say, but the honor is claimed by a number of persons. In the year 1653, M. de Valayer, a Frenchman, under royal patronage, estab- lished in Paris a postal system for letters in post-paid envelopes. It is claimed that there is preserved in the office of the British Secre- . tary of State an envelope in which was enclosed a letter dated May 16, 1696, written by Sir William Turnbull, Secretary of State, to Sir James Ogilvie, of London, England. In England, in 1714, Bishop Burnett makes use of the word "Envelope" as a wrapper or covering for a communication. In 1726 Dean Swift, in his "Advice to Grub Street," says: "Send these to 'paper sparing Pope,' * And when he sits to write, No letter with an envelope Could give him more delight." There are preserved in the British Museum, attached to the letters, the envelopes which were used in 1755 and 1760 for the transmission of two important government documents. But it is very evident that envelopes were not in common use, for there seems to be little or no reference to them for almost a hundred years. In 1825 Lamb mentions the envelope and in "Harry Lorrequer," published by Chas. Lever in 1837, we find this quotation: "The waiter entered with a small note in an envelope." It is claimed that envelopes were used in France before they were used in England, and there seems to be good ground for the claim. * This reference to "paper sparing Pope" is because Pope's celebrated translation of Homer (preserved in the British Mu- seum) is written almost entirely on the covers or wrappers of letters, as envelopes were first called. When they first came into the French market they were very dainty novelties and made from the most expensive and delicate papers. They were used only by the wealthy and were considered a fad. They were first used in England between 1830 and 1839, but only in a very limited way. It has been claimed that about the year 1830 a bookseller in Brighton, England, by the name of Brewer, made envelopes by hand, and that he was the first manufacturer of envelopes in Great Britain; but it is more than probable that there were quite a number who claimed to be the "first manufacturers" the same as we have had in our own country, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Louis- ville, Ky., each claiming that honor; but, as there is no one now living who can testify on the subject, and no authentic records are avail- able for proof, we simply state the several claims and leave the question open. The use of an envelope in England called for double postage, the law then being that postage should be charged for the number of pieces of paper. The custom then prevailing was to fold the letter sheet to make it answer the purpose of an envelope, and on all folded note and letter papers the fourth page was left unruled, the object being to use the unruled page for the outside of the letter on which to write the address and, while the unruled fourth page no longer serves its original purpose, the old custom on ruled folded note and letter paper of leaving the fourth page unruled still prevails, though probably very few of the younger generation could tell why the fourth page was left unruled. On this page is pasted a sample showing one of the methods of folding and sealing the letter sheet before the day of envelopes. Envelopes were first made by hand and the usual method of manufacture was this: A tin form was made the shape of the flat un- folded blank, the paper having been previously cut into lozenge- shaped pieces. This tin form was laid on perhaps twenty-five pieces of paper and a sharp shoemaker's knife followed round the edges of the tin form, thus cutting the blank. The blanks were then creased with a bone folder or thimble, pretty much the same as handfolded envelopes are still creased. The blanks were gummed by over- lapping and applying the gum with a brush to that portion which was to be stuck down to form the envelope, just as it would be done today. This work was done in small "book- shops" (as they were then called) on rainy days and when they had nothing else to do. Many years ago I was told by a member of the firm of J. L. Fairbanks & Co., of Boston, successors to the firm of Josiah Loring & Co., which firm was established in 1798, that in those days, i. e., about the year 1840, they made in their store, in the manner described, all the envelopes that were sold in the city of Boston, Mass. Mr. Edward N. Maxwell of Maxwell & Co., Stationers, Louisville, Ky., whose father moved from Philadelphia to Louisville, Ky., in 1831 and engaged in the printing and pub- lishing business, in connection with which he operated a small book and stationery store, told me over thirty years ago that when a boy, working in the store about the years 1835- 40, he cut out with his penknife in the man- 10 ner described above and then folded in the J back room of their little "book shop" all the envelopes that were then sold in the city of Louisville, which at that time had a popu- lation of a little over 10,000. I cite these two authentic cases to show the primitive conditions then existing. In New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other cities, envelopes were made in this way as a side line for the local demand before anyone entered into the business of envelope making as a separate industry. One of Mr. Maxwell's duties every morn- ing in those days was to go to the Post Office for the mail, taking with him money with which to pay the postage on letters which came collect, the postage ranging from six to twenty-five cents on a letter, the rate depending on the distance carried and the number of sheets in the letter. In "those good old days of the past" there were no letter carriers and the man who would have suggested our present rural free delivery system would have been looked upon as a visionary. When envelopes were first made, the sealing flaps were ungummed and were closed by applying at the point of the sealing flap a wafer or sealing wax. I very much desired to find, if possible, some of the wafers formerly used for sealing the old form of folded letter-sheet for use on the sample shown on page 9, and after cor- responding with a number of firms whose business life dates from the first half of the 11 last century, my search was finally successful, as will be noted by the following letter : H. K. Brewer & Co., Stationers 58 Liberty St., New York, Sept. 16, 1915. My Dear Mr. Logan: I fully appreciate the subtle innuendo in your letter of the 14th. You evidently think, because wafers have not been used in the past fifty years, that I may know something about them; it is very true I remember that once upon a time such instruments of torture were used before the use of envelopes became general. By the same mail I am sending, with my very best wishes for your happiness, -eight ounces of wafers (all that New York City affords), and hope there will be at least a thousand, but the weather being so warm, the effort to count them exceeds my vitality. Very truly yours, John Brewer. In the life of Sir Rowland Hill, published by De La Rue & Co., London, England, 1880, appears a letter written to Rowland Hill by Captain Basil Hall, Portsmouth, England, Dec. 31, 1840, from which letter I quote: "Portsmouth, England, Dec. 31, 1840. My dear Sir: — Many thanks for your agreeable information. Indeed, I have no doubt — nor ever had — that your admirable invention (for it well deserves that name) will ere long make up the Post Office revenue to what it was, to say nothing of the enormous ad- vantages which it brings along with it to all classes of the community. It strikes me, too, that a great convenience might be added to the envelopes if there were put a small lick of the gum which is used for the stamps at the angle where the wafer or wax 12 is put, so that an envelope might be closed without the trouble of a wafer or the double 'toil and trouble' of a seal — implying lucifer matches, tapers and wax. I can easily see how one hundred, or any number, of envelopes might have this small touch of gum ap- plied to them at a dash of a brush. "Everyone now uses envelopes, which save a world of time, and if you were to furnish the means of closing the letter by an adhesive corner, a still further saving of time would take place. "I dare say you are sadly bothered with crude suggestions; but my heart is completely in your noble scheme — the greatest of the day — that I venture to intrude occasionally. Ever most truly yours, Basil Hall." To Rowland Hill, London. And in his memoirs Sir Rowland Hill says: "This is, so far as I am aware, the first mention of that now almost universal practice, which has nearly made wafers and sealing wax things of the past." The suggestion made by Capt. Hall, and perhaps by others, seems to have been recog- nized as an improvement, and acted upon at once, for about this time there appeared in the market envelopes with a small "lick of gum" about the size of the wafer, say about half an inch square, at the point of the sealing flap, and this very soon supplanted the wafer and wax. When, however, as a still further improve- ment some manufacturers began to gum the whole of the sealing flap, many protested against it; and while willing to moisten the small spot of gum, for sanitary reasons they were not willing to "lick" the entire flap, so that the full gummed sealing flap had to fight for its place in the commercial field. 13 Some years ago Edmund M. Barton, Libra- rian of the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass., in looking over a mass of old correspondence belonging to the estate of his father, Judge Ira M. Barton, found several hundred envelopes which had enclosed letters received by his father during the years 1849- 1855, and these he presented to me. These will be pasted on this page so far as they will go as specimens of the envelope maker's art of that date. I regret that there is not a sufficient number to enclose one in each copy of this issue. By many it was still not considered good form to use anything but the wafer or the sealing wax and the old custom died hard, but then, as now, utility conquered prejudice and conservatism, and the gummed flap envelope came into its own. Envelopes rapidly came into favor, and in England, in 1841, only two years after the passage of the Penny Post Act (Aug. 27, 1839), which became operative Jan. 10, 1840, almost half the correspondence passing through the Post Office of the United Kingdom was en- closed in envelopes; and in 1850, only ten years after the Act became operative, over 90% of the correspondence was enclosed in envelopes. SIR ROWLAND HILL, The Father of the Penny Post. Sir Rowland Hill, an English Administrator, who was born in 1795, and who died in 1879, was the father of the Penny Post which came into existence in England in 1840. On this point there is general agreement. On account of an affection of the spine sir Rowland hill he was obliged to main- tain a recumbent position and his principal method of relieving the irksomeness of his situation was to repeat figures aloud consec- utively until he had reached very high totals. He had the statistical mind, and, following his natural bent, in 1835, when he was forty years of age, he directed his investigation toward the postal system of Great Britain. The discovery which resulted from these investigations is, when stated, so easy of comprehension that there is great danger of losing sight of its originality and thoroughness. A fact which enhances its merit was that he was not a Post Office Official, and possessed no practical experience of the details of the old system. After a laborious collection of sta- tistics, he succeeded in demonstrating that the principal expense of letter carriage was in receiving and distributing, and that the cost of conveyance differed so little with the distance that a uniform rate of postage was in reality the fairest to all parties that could be adopted. Trusting, also, that the deficiency in the postal rate would be made up by the immense increase of correspondence, and by the saving which would be obtained from pre- payment, from improved methods of keeping accounts and from lessening the expense of distribution, he, in his famous pamphlet published in 1837, recommended that within the United Kingdom the rate for letters not exceeding half an ounce in weight should be only one penny. The employment of postage stamps is mentioned only as a suggestion, and in the following words : "Perhaps the difficulties might be obviated by using a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash, which, by applying a little moisture, might be attached to the back of the letter." Proposals so striking and novel in regard to a subject in which everyone had a personal interest commanded immediate and general attention. So great became the pressure of public opinion against the opposition offered 16 to the measure of official prepossessions and prejudices that, in 1838, the House of Com- mons appointed a committee to examine the subject. The committee having reported favorably, a bill to carry out Hill's recommen- dations was brought in by the Government. The Act received the royal assent in 1839 and, after an intermediate rate of fourpence had been in operation from the fifth of December of that year, the penny rate commenced on the tenth of January, 18407^ Hill received an appointment in the Treas- ury in order to superintend the introduction of his reforms, but he was compelled to retire when the Liberal Government resigned office in 1841. In consideration of the loss he thus sus- tained, and to mark the public appreciation of his services, he was, in 1846, presented with the sum of £13,360. On the Liberals returning to office in the same year, he was appointed secretary to the Postmaster-General; and in 1854 he was made Chief Secretary. His ability as a practical administrator enabled him to supple- ment his original discovery by measures realizing its benefits in a degree commen- surate with continually improving facilities of communication, and in a manner best combining cheapness with efficiency. In 1860 his services were rewarded with the honor of Knighthood, and when failing health compelled him to resign his office in 1864, he received from Parliament a grant of 20,000 pounds sterling, and was also allowed 17 to retain his full salary of 2,000 pounds a year, as retiring pension. In 1864 the University of Oxford conferred on him the degree of D. C. L., and on the 6th day of June, 1879, he was presented with the freedom of the City of London. The presentation, on account of his infirm health, took place at his residence at Hamp- stead, and he died on the 27th of August following (1879) and was buried in West- minster Abbey. (Encyclopedia Britannica — Vol. XIII p. 466.) Up to the time of the passage of the Penny Post Act (1 839) , letters could be sent either post- age prepaid or collect on delivery, at the then prevailing rates which were very high, thereby greatly restricting the correspondence of the public. I have heard my father tell of a man whom he knew when a young man, in Scotland, in the early 40's, who had a grudge against another man, and how he got even with him. This man was a sailor, and, wherever he chanced to be, he would write to the man against whom he held the grudge, sending the letter postage collect, and this was his message : "If you are well, I am well, Pay the post and go to h — 1." Eventually the man was compelled to decline to receive any letters unless the postage was prepaid. Postage stamps were introduced in England in May, 1840, and Sir Rowland Hill is given 18 the credit for having made this suggestion, also. One of the large questions which he had set out to solve was how to handle the business on a penny basis so that the cost of handling it could be kept within reason. Up to this time one of the enormous burdens on the Post Office Department had been the collection of postage and accounting for the proceeds of the service. Now it was proposed to have letters carried at a uniform rate in the Kingdom without regard to the distance carried, and postage was to be paid at the office of mailing so to control the revenue received for the service rendered with the smallest amount of accounting, and if postage was not prepaid double rates were to be charged, Hill's theory being that this would practically compel prepayment and thus, in large measure, control the revenue at its source. In his memorable and epoch-making report which he published in 1837, in discussing some of the problems, in connection with the collection of the Revenue, he said in regard to the postage stamp which has been one of the greatest servants of mankind: "Perhaps the difficulties might be obviated by using a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, covered on the back with a glutinous wash, which, by applying a little moisture, might be at- tached to the back of the letter." Then the suggestion was made that this "■bit of paper" could perform a double func- tion (gummed flap envelopes not yet having come into use) — it would secure the pre- payment of postage and at the same time it could be made to seal the envelope, thus taking the place of the wafer or sealing wax. The increasing demand for envelopes created the necessity for machinery for their manufacture, and it is generally conceded that the first efficient automatic envelope- folding machine in the world was invented by Edwin Hill, brother of Sir Rowland Hill, his invention being supplemented by those of Mr. Warren De La Rue, the original patents being issued in 1845. This machine was improved and protected by other patents in 1849 and was exhibited at the Exposition in Hyde Park, London, England, in 1851. \ The development of Envelope- Folding Machin- ery will be taken up in the next issue of the "Red Envelope." 20 OUR INDUSTRIAL FAMILY OIK p i 1 1' " : : - c < * €;, k_- :r : . *^. "* ""Mi ■"•4** ■■ * !^F^^M V | ..,,.i ' r 5?' 41 > WET % j, ;,.::#« ' 1 « s 3 C ^ s k I I & i < Z5 < ° ■ £ 2 Q. o > 5 5 ci 6 u u 6 C3 U. U. z o £3 U 0. < Z DC < e> 2 2 a. o . 2 > H ° tn < u q Q Q LU o 88§<; ^ 2 Q hi . Q Z IHJU. Z H £ J *'££ o S 2 J UJ U. > < ■J < • IV u q: d: u U - 2 ui it," 15 u < uS z Q X Z < DC g 3 > UJ J S * m 50ZUI 2 DC < 2 ^ • a < 1 CO u. -> a: 3 o 2 a . o cc 2 UJ - I >■ u cc en u m s 3 Ui < ■ . J UJ iii 2 u > < i u i h ui 2 < CD U 23 HELLO, FRISCO !" (Sept. 3, 1915) "Less than forty years ago Professor Alexander Graham Bell, standing in a little attic at No. 5 Exeter Place, Boston, sent through a crude telephone, his own invention, the first spoken words ever carried over a wire, and the words were heard and under- stood by his associate. "On that day, March 10th, 1876, the tele- phone was born, and the first message went over the only telephone line in the world — a line less than one hundred feet long. "The world moves a long way ahead in the span of one man's life. On Monday afternoon, January 25, 1915, this same Alexander Graham Bell, sitting in the office of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. at New York, talked to this same Thomas A. Watson in San Francisco." From an address by Nathan C. Kingsbury, Vice- President of the American Telephone and Tele- graph Co. When an audience of 5,000 people in a hall in Boston can enjoy hearing the "Star Spangled Banner" played by a band at the Exposition in far-away San Francisco, and when a similar audience in San Francisco can hear the strains of "America" sung by the chorus in Boston, and when the human voice can be heard and recognized across the continent, traveling over 3,545 miles of wire, it seems trite and commonplace to say we are living in a wonderful age and we are compelled to admit that — " Truth is stranger than fiction," for by no flight of the imagination could such a thing have been thought possible forty years ago. This wonderful development has all been made during the lives of the men not yet old (as men count age) who took the first steps toward this marvelous achievement, and best of all the two pioneers who first "made the wire talk." Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson have lived to see that which was beyond their wildest dreams come true, and yet we and hundreds of millions of men and women use the tele- phone daily without even a passing thought of the debt we owe to the men who made the initial invention and to the thousands of men and women who have perfected, developed and operate this mighty servant of mankind. At the meeting of the Division Managers of the United States Envelope Company, held at the Logan, Swift & Brigham Envelope Co. Division, Worcester, Mass., Sept. 3d, 1915, through the courtesy of Mr. Clarence 25 J. Abbott, District Manager of the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., arrange- ments ,were made by which (Mr. George R. Davis , Manager of the Pacific Coast Envelope^ Co. Division of the Company, who, on ac- count ©.{ time and dis- tance, was, not able to meet with\ the other members of our "indus- trial family," could exchange greetings over the wire, the telephone having annihilated both time and distance and made San Fran- cisco and Worcester foi\the time being near neighbors. \ JAMES LOGAN, General Managei TALKING WITH SAN FRANCISCC This was the first time that Worcester talked with San\ Francisco. Often have,we heard the expression ' ' Talk is cheap], " but sometimes it is not. The rate for three minutes was |21.20 plus $6.75 for each additional minute and for our talk we con- tributed about $75.00 toward the dividend of the Telephone Co. Just fancy what Cyrus White of Rockville, Conn., or David Whitcomb of Worcester, those two sturdy, hard-headed pioneers in the envelope GEO. R. DAVIS, Manager pacific coast env. co. div. , Talking with Worcester, Mass 26 business, would have thought to spend $75.00 for a ten-minute talk! But, "It was well worth the price." How was our talk made possible? The following interesting telephone data was fur- nished by Mr. Clarence J. Abbott, Dist. Manager at Worcester, Mass. : "By the use of two circuits in each of which is 7,010 miles of hard-drawn copper wire .165 inch in diameter — there are 870 pounds of copper wire in each circuit mile, and over 3,000 tons in the entire line, which is carried by over 140,000 poles. "If the human voice were loud enough to be heard from Worcester to San Francisco, it would take four hours to travel that dis- tance. The voice by telephone travels at the rate of 56,000 miles per second and is heard in San Francisco in one fifteenth of a second. "The first sound was transmitted by tele- phone in Boston, June 2, 1875. The first words were transmitted by telephone in Boston, March 10, 1876. Mr. Watson heard Professor Bell say— 'Mr. Watson, please come here, I want you.' "The first conversation held by telephone took place October 9, 1876, over a telephone line two miles long, between Boston and Cambridge, Mass., Professor Bell and Mr. Watson talking. 27 "The first newspaper report ever trans- mitted by telephone was sent from Salem, Mass., to the Boston Globe, February 12, 1877." JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. 28 The Hall-mark of Quality ©^ 2U& iEntotop? February, 1916 Number 4 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S Immortal Contribution to Patriotic Thought GETTYSBURG ADDRESS November 19th, 1863 BALTIMORE VERSION Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the propo- sition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion: that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain: that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of free- dom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. The Story of the Envelope by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER II THE BEGINNINGS OF ENVELOPE-FOLDING MACHINERY Penny postage created an increasing de- mand for envelopes which caused the busi- ness to soon grow beyond the back room in the small "book-shop" (referred to in the last number of the Red Envelope) and envelope-making became a separate industry. There were in London, Paris. New York and other large cities, firms with large numbers of employees making envelopes by hand; and, as the business continued to grow, the man with the mechanical instinct began to think along mechanical lines and to work out machinery for their manufacture. Such machinery was often very crude and imperfect but still a great advance over hand labor. Among those who early gave thought to envelope-folding machinery in England was Edwin Hill, a younger brother of Rowland Hill. He had worked with his brother in the development of a rotary printing press, but as Kipling would say, "that is another story" (and I may add, a very interesting story). Both brothers were deeply interested in postal reform, and, having the mechan- ical instinct, it was a most natural sequence that Edwin Hill's mind should be turned in the direction of envelope-folding machinery. In Sir Rowland Hill's memoirs, published by Thomas De La Rue & Co., London, 1880, after his death, he says: "On December 15th (the year is not given, but from the context it would seem to be 1840), I first saw, in my brother Edwin's room at Somerset House, and in its earliest form, that envelope-folding machine which attracted so much attention at the first International Exhibition (1851) and is now in constant and extensive use. In the model it already seemed to do its work very well, but the labor of some years was yet required to complete its adaptation to its purpose. In this latter part of the process my brother received important assis- tance from Mr. Warren De La Rue, who, in the end, purchased the patent." Then, as now, with most inventions the question was raised as to who was the original inventor. In the "Life of Sir Rowland Hill," by his nephew, George Birkbeck Hill, published by De LaRue & Co., London, 1880, an insert, dated December 30, 1880, is attached to page 419, Vol. I, which reads as follows: "Since going to press, Mr. Warren De La Rue has pointed out to me that Sir Rowland Hill, in the passage in which he describes the envelope- folding machine, has failed to give him credit for the actual share which he had in its invention and construction. Although the first idea of an en- velope-folding machine, and the invention of the first model, were solely Mr. Edwin Hill's, yet the envelope-folding machine, exhibited in 1851, dif- fered essentially from this model, and was, it appears, the joint invention of Mr. Edwin Hill and Mr. Warren De La Rue, and as such was jointly patented by them. It moreover embodied a second patent of Mr. Warren De La Rue's, namely, the gumming apparatus. In this latter invention Mr. Edwin Hill had no share. George Birkbeck Hill." Which controversy reminds me of a conver- sation I once had with one of my partners, Mr. Henry D. Swift, a man with one of the finest mechanical minds, and with his brother, D. Wheeler Swift, the nearest approach to saints that I ever expect to meet on this side of "The Great Divide," and who is now, with his four score years, enjoying the gloaming of a fruitful, well-spent life. He and his brother, D. Wheeler Swift, had been working out an improvement in envelope-folding machinery, and, when examining the machine with him, I said : /'Well, Henry, who did it, you or Wheeler?" And his reply was, "We didn't either of us do it; we knew what we were after, and brother said: "You put on paper what you think will do it," and I did. Then brother kicked it full of holes, and then I said to him, " Sup- pose you put on paper what you think will do it," and he did; and then I kicked that all to pieces, and so we kept on, one setting up something and the other kicking it over; and this is what we finally got, but it isn't what either of us expected to get when we started out, and it is a great deal better than the original idea we had in mind when we started; but, working together as we were, it is pretty hard to say definitely who did it." The Hill-De La Rue envelope-folding machine, when finally perfected about 1849 or '50, claimed to have a capacity of twenty- seven thousand envelopes per day and it might be said that then, as now, capacity is one thing and actual product is quite another, but like the politicians and envelope men of our own day, the inventors, no doubt, claimed for their machine all the capacity they could. The record of the doings of this wonderful machine has this familiar note which most envelope makers will at once recognize, "not more than two thousand of the twenty- seven thousand were found to be badly folded." It is not stated how long the working day was at that early date (1840 to '49) when they were developing this machine, but it is fairly safe to assume that the day was, from sunup to sundown, a working day of probably thirteen or fourteen hours, as was the rule in other industries at that time in England and even in our own country, for the ten- hour day had not then been thought of as an industrial possibility, except by a few men who were accounted dreamers. In making this reference to the length of the working day in the United States, I am not drawing on imagination but from per- sonal experience, for in 1862, before I was quite ten years of age, I worked in a woolen mill in a village four miles Jfrom Worcester, Mass., from five o'clock in the morning till seven o'clock at night, coming out a half- hour for breakfast at 7:30 with three-quarters of an hour for dinner at 12 M. Those were "the good old days of the past" that some people who today are dissatisfied with present conditions and who know nothing of the past are so fond of harking back to, but the best thing about "those good old days" is that they have gone and gone forever. I have not yet forgotten how early in the morning 4 :30 used to come and the bed used to get such a grasp on me that it was hard for me to get away from it ; and, after being called several times, about the only absolutely sure way my father had to insure my getting up was to bodily lift me out of the bed and stand me up on the floor, and while I was trying to hold my balance to prevent falling over I rubbed my eyes open. Nor have I forgotten how long it was from five o'clock to seven- thirty when we had breakfast. "Good old days of the past," we are glad we said goodbye to you years ago and that little tots of ten years of age don't have to do that now. Those who sigh for the return of "the good old days" are usually not the ones who passed through those experiences, or if they are, the facts are simply these: The great softener, TIME, has been at work, and one of the blessed things of life is this, that pain and discomforts are soon forgotten and we look back through the years and smile at things which were then hard to be borne. The Hill-De La Rue envelope-folding ma- chine, having been greatly improved, was one of the most attractive features of the great Hyde Park, London, Exposition in 1851, its capacity then being rated at 3 M. per hour. This machine was invented and patented in England in 1845 and improved and protected by other patents in 1849. The publication of the Red Envelope is primarily for the members of our Industrial Family and hence the details of the develop- ment of the industry will have a greater interest for them, so I have thought best to quote in full the primitive description of this wonderful first envelope-folding machine, the pioneer in the industry. THE HILL-DE LA RUE ENVELOPE MACHINE Reproduced from the catalogue of the Hyde Park, London, England, Exposition, 1851. Description of the Hill-DeLa Rue Envelope- Folding Machine, from the catalogue of the Hyde Park, London, England, Exposition, 1851: "The following is the action of this machine. The feeding boy places the previously cut blank envelopes onto a small platform, which rises and falls in the rectangular recess formed by the cylin- drical axes of the folders (shown open in the engrav- ing), the bearings of the folders serving by their elongation to guide the envelope into its place at the moment of the small platform falling. A plunger now descends and creases the envelope by carry- ing it between the folder axes, at the same time turning the flaps upward in a vertical direction. The plunger, which descends as a whole, now divides into two parts, the ends rising and the sides remain- ing down to hold the envelope until the end folders have operated; these latter turn over the flaps, the one on the right of the feeding-lad taking a slight precedence, and being closely followed by the gumming apparatus which takes gum from an endless blanket working in a trough and, after applying it to the two end flaps, retires, at the same time the remaining half of the plunger moves upward, to allow of the side folders turning over the remaining two flaps, the folders nearest the feeder taking precedence. During these operations the end folders have remained at rest and the whole four open simultaneously. The taking-off apparatus, with its fingers tipped with vulcanized caoutchouc, now moves forward over the folded envelope, which is lifted upward by the rise of the small platform and retreats with it, placing each envelope, as it is successively folded, under those which have preceded it. The envelopes are now knocked over on to an endless blanket, and are conducted by it between two cylinders for a final squeeze, and then rise in a pile up the trough seen against the right arm of an attendant, who is rep- resented in the engraving as fetching away the folded work. There is a provision in the machine by which the gummer is prevented placing gum upon the platform in case the feeder omits feeding in an envelope. This machine works at the rate of 2,700 envelopes per hour, and although superseding hand labor in folding, it is satisfactory to find that, in- stead of displacing hands, its introduction, by ex- tending the consumption, has, in reality, created work for more than it has displaced. "Although the fashion of using envelopes was common in France and had been, to a small extent, introduced in England, prior to 1839, yet their consumption was too insignificant to call forth any but the rudest mechanical appliances. It is to the stimulus created by the adoption in 1839 of Mr. Rowland Hill's system of postage reform and the consequent increased demand for envelopes, that their manufacture owes its rank among the arts, and its possession of some of the most ingenious machinery recently invented. 10 "The total annual number of letters passing through the post office in the United Kingdom before the change in the postage was about seventy- six million. The four-penny rate and the alteration of the system of charge by number of enclosures to that by weight, was introduced on the 5th of December, 1839, and on the 10th of January, 1840, the rate was reduced to one penny. During that year the number of letters increased to one hundred and sixty-nine million, about half of which were enclosed in envelopes. The number of letters has been steadily increasing since that period and during the year 1850 it reached the astonishing number of three hundred and forty-seven million, or one million per day. The proportion of letters enclosed in envelopes has likewise been increased from one-half to five-sixths of the total quantity, so that, in round numbers, three hundred million of envelopes pass annually through the post office, besides which there is nearly an equal number used in private conveyance. What does this million of envelopes contain? Their exposition would furnish an instructive and entertaining study." Exhibit of Thomas De La Rue London Exhibition, 1 85 1 , (Hill-De La Rue Machine) Showing the first envelope-folding machine. 11 Mechanics in other countries were wrestling with the problem of envelope-folding machinery and an inventor in France named Remond had produced a machine which was also on exhibi- tion at the Hyde Park, London, Exposition, 1851. This seems to have been the pioneer machine in which the envelope blank was picked up and carried into the machine by suction. A brief description of this machine is given below : From the Year Book of Facts, 1851 , Published by John Timbs, David Bogue, Fleet Street, London. "Remond's machine, also exhibited, differs essen- tially from that of De La Rue; atmospheric pressure being employed for raising singly each sheet of paper and placing it on top of the folding apparatus and, again, in giving the necessary inclination to the flaps of the envelopes previously to their being folded down by the action of the plunger. Several hundred blanks being placed on the feeding table of the machine, by a very simple operation, it is started by the girl in attendance. The top sheet is raised from the rest by a 'finger,' the underside of which is perforated; when a partial vacuum being formed each sheet is sucked up against its under surface and transferred to the folding apparatus, on reaching which, the exhaustion being no longer maintained, the sheet drops into its place. The folding apparatus consists of an open box or frame, the size of the required envelope, over which is fixed a creaser or plunger fitting the inside of the frame. The blank piece of paper having been placed on the top of the box by the feeding finger, the plunger descends just within the box, and the flaps of the envelope are thus bent to a right angle. The bottom of the creasing frame or box is perforated, to prevent any atmospheric resistance on the entrance of the paper, and the passing back of the plunger leaves the paper within the frame, with its four flaps standing upright. At this point the second at- mospheric action gives the flaps of the envelope a preliminary inclination upward and fits them for receiving the flat folding pressure of the return stroke of the plunger; to this end, the four sides of the folding box are perforated, so as to allow streams of air to be forced against the outsides of the flaps of the envelopes, in order that, on the second descent of the plunger, they may all be folded down at once. There are also certain contrivances for embossing the outer flap of the envelope and for gumming the lowest flap as a fastening. To compensate for the continued decrease in the height of the pile of blank papers, and to provide for the upper one always coming in close contact with the lifting finger when the platform rises, the addition of a spring has been found amply effective. By this machine forty envelopes are produced in a minute, gummed, embossed, and entirely completed for use. If needed, the velocity might be increased. — Abridged Report from the Illustrated London News." "Seven cities fought for Homer dead Through whose streets the living Homer begged for bread." So in connection with the envelope industry in the United States a number of cities claim the honor of the birthplace of the first en- velope machine. I have in my possession correspondence and newspaper articles in regard to the death of a number of the early inventors of envelope machinery, each one of whom is accredited with having been the inventor of the first successful or practical envelope-folding machine in this country. This is a point which cannot be definitely settled, for many men with mechanical minds, in different cities, were working on the problem and some of them, no doubt, made crude machines which would fold an envelope, which machines were never patented and so the record, or even a description of their mechanical construction, has been lost. The Arnold machine, invented by J. G. Arnold of Worcester, Mass., in the early 50's, is of this class.* In looking back through the vista of the years, the past has become somewhat blurred and it is not now possible to definitely say who actually made the first envelope-folding machine in the United States. The first patent for an envelope-folding machine in the United States was No. 6055, issued January 23d, 1849, to J. K. Park and C. S. Watson of New York. In the early days of the Patent Office at Washington, inventors of machinery had to file with the Patent Office a working model showing their invention, and from a photo- graph of this model we are able to reproduce the Park- Watson foot-power machine of 1849. *The Arnold machine will be considered in one of the follow- ing chapters of the Red Envelope, which will deal with the beginnings of the Whitcomb Envelope Company Division of the United States Envelope Company. Photograph of Park & Watson's model filed with applica- tion April 21, 1848, in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which patent No. 6055 was issued January 23, 1849. The second patent for an envelope-folding machine was No. 9683 and was issued to E. Coleman, Philadelphia, Pa., April 26, 1853. This was evidently a hand machine. From a model filed with the Patent Office and the drawings which form part of his appli- cation for a patent, we are able to show how far he had traveled along the highway of envelope invention. 15 From the drawings filed with the application of E. Coleman, September 16, 1852. Patent issued No. 9683, April 26, 1853. Photograph of E. Coleman's model, filed in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which patent No. 9683 was issued April 26, 1853. So far as I have been able to learn, these machines made envelopes by hand and foot power but neither one of the machines covered by these two patents ever had a practical commercial value and, up to the present time, I have not been able to find any historical trace whatever of either Park- Watson or Coleman, so I am unable to say who they were or for whom they worked. It is my hope that the brief and imperfect records which I am able to present will come to the attention of persons who may be able to supply some of the missing links which will connect these early pioneers of the past with the present of our industry. The third patent in the Uni- ted States for an envelope-fold- ing machine was issued to Dr. Russell L. Hawes, a physician of Worcester, Mass., being No. 9812, issued January 21, 1853, and it would seem, without doubt, as if the honor of in- venting and constructing the first practical commercial envelope- )r. russell l. hawes Elding machine belonged to him. "Dr. Russell L. Hawes, born in Leominster, Mass., March 22, 1823. He studied medicine with the local physician in the town and died at Nice, France, July 20th, 1867, but his inventive and constructive genius would not allow him to follow the daily routine of his profession. His mind was elsewhere. He associated himself with Goddard, Rice & Co. of Worcester, Mass., makers of paper machinery, and in their interest he visited Europe and learned much for the improvement of paper- making machinery. "He had two qualities which are seldom given by God to the same man — the mechanical head and the financial instinct." From the Worcester County Mechanics Association Report, April, 1867. Dr. Hawes' machines have gone the way of all the works of man, and not a machine is now in existence; but from the drawings filed with the application for the patent, and a photographic reproduction of the model in the Patent Office at Washington, D. C, we are able to reproduce his machine ; and by a com- parison of the reproduction with the two machines which preceded his, it will be readily acknowledged that Dr. Hawes was a long way in advance of Park & Watson and Coleman. From the drawings filed with the application of Russell L. Hawes, May 1, 1852. Patent issued June 21, 1853. 18 Photograph of Russell L. Hawes' model in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which Patent No. 9812 was issued June 21, 1853. Dr. Russell L. Hawes, while the agent for Goddard, Rice & Co., of Worcester, Mass., manufacturers of paper-making machinery, when in New York saw some hand-made en- velopes said to have been made by a^ Pole named Karcheski, who, it has been claimed, made the first hand-made envelopes in this country. Dr. Hawes visited Europe in the interest of his firm and while in Europe he saw an envelope-folding machine in operation. The date of his visit cannot now be determined, but it is known to have been prior to 1852, and it is a fair inference that he saw the machines of Hill-De La Rue and Remond in operation in the Hyde Park Exposition, London, 1851, and that this exhibit gave him the object lesson from which his machine was evolved. Dr. Hawes believed he could invent a ma- chine for making envelopes, and with that "Faith" which to every inventor is still in the language of the Great Apostle, "the substance of things hoped for — the evi- dence of things not seen," invented and built in Worcester, Mass., in the shop of Goddard, Rice & Co., the envelope-folding machine for which patent No. 9812 was issued June 21, 1853. The blank for the envelope was first cut with a die, then the sealing flap was gummed, the envelope blanks being spread out on sealing boards, one envelope blank over- lapping the other and the gum being applied with an ordinary brush, just as hand-sealed envelopes are now gummed. When the gum on the sealing flaps had dried, the blanks were placed in the folding machine, which was a self-feeder. Up to this time all attempts at making en- velopes by machinery had dealt only with the folding of the envelope, the single blanks being fed to the machine by hand the same as sheets of paper are fed to a hand-fed printing press today. Dr. Hawes had made a distinct advance and had attached a feeding device to his folding machine by which the blanks were picked up automatically. He thus applied a new 20 mechanical principle which is now in use on every self- gumming plunger envelope machine in the world, picking up the envelope blank by either gum or suction. The blanks, having been cut and gummed on one edge, were fed to the machine in bunches of five hundred; gum was applied to the under side of the picker, which de- scended on top of the pile of blanks ; the top blank adhered to the picker and by it was lifted to the carriage which conveyed it under the plunger, by which the blank was forced into the folding box. Small wings then folded over the flaps of the envelope and the gum by which the blank had been elevated to the carriage now performed a second office, that is, sticking the envelope together. It required the services of one girl to attend the machine, while it took half the time^ of another girl to spread the gum on the sealing flaps, so that three girls could produce a finished product of about twenty-five thou- sand envelopes in ten hours. This machine was described by one of the men who worked on it as "a thing of springs and strings," and had a daily product of from 10 to 12^ thousand envelopes from each machine; and when that high point of efficiency had been reached, Dr. Hawes said to J. C. Parsons, of the Parsons Paper Co., Holyoke, Mass. (who told me), "that product would never be beaten." His machine was not a self-gummer and he could not see into the future far enough to see some of the self- gumming Plunger Folding Machines of today making a com- pleted product of 8 or 9 thousand envelopes per hour. But in his day he did his part to make this later machine a possibility. The envelopes thus made by Dr. Hawes were sold to Jonathan Grout, who at that time was in the paper and stationery business in Worcester, Mass. Dr. Hawes, in the meantime, had moved his envelope factory to the building of the T. K. Earle Mfg. Co., on Grafton Street. Factory of T. K. Earle Mfg. Co., Grafton St., Worcester, Mass. In the upper story of this building the first envelopes made by automatic machinery in the United States were manufactured by Dr. Russell L. Hawes. 22 Believing that his machine had reached a maximum product, in 1857 Dr. Hawes sold his business to Hartshorn & Trumbull (Chas. W. & George F. Hartshorn and Joseph Trumbull), who were succeeded in 1861 by Trumbull, Waters & Co. (Joseph Trumbull and Lucius Waters), which firm was in turn succeeded by the following firms and cor- porations : 1866 Hill, Devoe & Co. W. H. Hill 1892 W. H. Hill Envelope Co. 1898 W. H. Hill Envelope Co. Division, United States Envelope Company. NOTE — A later chapter will be devoted to the further development of envelope-folding machin- ery at this factory, the primary purpose of the present articles being to preserve the beginnings of the industry which will necessitate tracing these early developments at quite a number of different places where the manufacture of envelopes had been started. 23 The Hall-mark of Quality JL\\t 2Jri> iEttoltfp? May, 1916 Number 5 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. "THE RED ENVELOPE" By the "G. M." In July, 1915, was issued the first number of our House Organ, The Red Envelope, which we said would be published from time to time, if the spirit moved but not when it did not move — i. e., it would not be published unless we had something to say — that nothing in it would be written simply to fill space so to get it out on a fixed date of issue. It was to be used primarily as a medium for the preservation of historical data connected with the beginnings of the envelope industry, and was intended for the members of "our industrial family;'^ but the circle has been made somewhat wider and many other names have been added to the mailing list. The present number is the fifth that has been launched on the ocean of House Organs. Former issues have sailed through the mails to many ports and have found entry on the desks of many busy men and women to whom they have delivered their message, and from many such have come back helpful words of friendliness and good will which bear no sign of the dollar mark. We wish we had the space to publish some of the letters which breath this spirit of friend- liness. Our messenger has been the means of renewing the "G. M.'s" acquaintance with hundreds with whom he became acquainted in the days of long ago, before Father Time had thinned or whitened our hair, or set the lines of his service chevrons in our faces, when we were just getting our feet on the lower rungs of the ladder preparing for the upward climb, and before the burden of doing larger things had made business so impersonal, that a large part of the joy of doing business had been taken out of it. It has brought back many delightful references to those days of smaller things when business had in it a large element of friendship which was not measured by the size of the order or the amount of profit, and when, as we met, we sometimes had time to speak of things other than strictly busi- ness. It has done us good to go back over the road we have traveled and renew those friendships of former years. "G. M." GEORGE HENRY WHITCOMB 1842-1916 G. Henry Whitcomb, founder of the Whit- comb Envelope Company, and a Vice Presi- dent and Director of the United States Envelope Company, since its organization in 1898, died on Sunday, February 13, 1916, at his home, 51 Harvard Street, Worcester, Mass., aged seventy-three. Mr. Whitcomb was born in Templeton, Mass., September 26, 1842, the son of David and Margaret (Cummings) Whitcomb. His family moved to Worcester in 1854. He received his education in the public schools of Worcester, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and Amherst College, graduating in the class of 1864. It was his intention to enter commercial life and after his graduation from college he became a clerk in the hardware store of Calvin Foster & Co., in which firm his father, David Whitcomb, was special partner, but this business proved to be not to his liking and he became interested in the develop- ment of a machine for making envelopes and with that industry he was connected during his entire business life. (The develop- ment of the Whitcomb Envelope Co. Divi- sion of the United States Envelope Company will be dealt with quite in detail in an early issue of The Red Envelope.) In addition to the envelope industry he had many other important business connections, being a di- rector in many large enterprises. At the time of his death he was a trustee of Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Oberlin College and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, of which his father was one of the founders. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In New York City by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER III As early as 1843, a Mr. Pierson was en- gaged in the manufacture of envelopes by hand in New York City, but the methods of manufacture were crude, costs were high and demand limited; and, becoming discour- aged, for a time he discontinued their manufac- ture, but when, by the act of Congress, July 1, 1845, the rates of postage were materially reduced and fixed by weight instead of for the number of pieces or sheets of paper enclosed in the communication, the business began to grow. Mr. Pierson later sold his business to William Dangerfield, an English- man, who continued the business at 180 Fulton Street, in a small room hired from Jacob Berlin, father of Henry C. Berlin, of the Berlin & Jones Envelope Company. JACOB BERLIN (78) Died June 15, 1896 Age 92 Years Mr. Dangerfield had practically no capital and lived from hand to mouth, having a hard straggle to make both ends meet, but Mr. Berlin, becoming interested in the young man, assisted him in a small way. In 1847, Mr. Berlin purchased the business of Danger- field and began the manufacture on a larger scale and with more up-to-date methods, but still the business did not prosper and after a trial of a few months Mr. Berlin, becoming discouraged, was ready to retire, but being unable to find a purchaser, he was compelled to continue the operation of the plant. In 1852, Henry C. Berlin, son of Jacob Berlin, being at that time about seventeen years of age, and having grown tired of school, wanted to go to work; and his father, being interested in the small envelope plant, very naturally thought of the envelope factory as being the place where the growing boy could have a taste of real work, his thought being that having had that experience he would then be willing to go back to school with a keener zest for his books, but the boy had no such notion — he had no intention of returning to school, his ambition being to get into business. The same year (1852) Jacob Berlin sold the envelope business to Wm. G. West, who wanted the business not for himself, but for a relative, and knowing nothing about the business, he desired to retain the services of young Berlin as a clerk. A year later (1853) Henry C. Berlin, then eighteen years of age, became a partner o of Mr. West's, the firm being West & Berlin, doing business at 67 Pine Street, New York City. During this year part of the plant was damaged by fire and, as the business continued to grow, Mr. West, who owned real estate at 120 William Street, the rear lot of HE ^ berlin which he wanted to de- velop, he built for the use of the company on this rear lot a building 25 x 60, six stories with basement and cellar. Up to this time (1855) they had no ma- chinery for folding envelopes, all the work being done by hand, the firm employing from 75 to 100 handfolders, with a daily product of from 200 to 250 M. envelopes. In 1855 young Berlin, being then twenty years of age, read in a newspaper ofr magazine an account of a wonderful machine for making envelopes which was being operated at the Paris exposition, and he decided to see the machine and if possible purchase one. He accordingly went to Europe alone, which in those days was quite an undertaking for so young a man, and having traveled over England and Germany looking for envelope machinery, was unable to find machines in either country which could be purchased, the few machines then in exist- ence being owned or controlled by the firms which were operating them and who desired to control the manufacture of envelopes rather than to sell envelope-folding machinery. Mr. Berlin then went to Paris and saw the Rab- bate machine in opera- tion in the Exposition and he finally purchased the machine which was in the Exposition to be delivered to him at New York when the Exposition closed. This machine was in- vented by a Frenchman named Rabbate. The pur- chase price was 2500 francs, which with delivery charges to New York made the cost of the machine about $600.00. French Envelope Machine Rabbate, 1855 FRENCH ENVELOPE MACHINE RABBATE, 1855 It was about the size and style of the Reay machine and it was from this machine that Reay, Duff and Keating all got their first ideas of envelope-folding machinery. The Reay machine folded the envelope in practically the same manner that the French machine did. FRENCH ENVELOPE MACHINE, RABBATE, 1855 It was operated by a foot treadle but it was intended later to apply power. Flour paste and gum arabic were used to gum the envelopes. The blanks were fed into the machine by hand, the inventor claim- ing for his machine a capacity of 2,500 per hour, but the blanks could not be fed into the machine at that speed; so, again we repeat, capacity is one thing and prod- uct is quite another thing. When this machine had been installed at the New York factory it gave them all kinds of trouble. It simply "would not be good" and make envelopes, and it about broke the heart and spirit of every man and girl who tried to operate it. 11 In 1856, Mr. West sold his interest in the firm to Geo. H. Jones, who was in the stationery business on John Street and who, as a dealer in envelopes, had been buy- ing his goods from West & Berlin and so had become somewhat familiar with the envelope business, and in this way the firm of Berlin & Jones came into exist- ence. GEO. H. JONES Berlin & Jones, New York Mr. Jones was a brother of Col. Edward F. Jones, who commanded the 6th Massachusetts Regiment on its famous march through Baltimore, April 19, 1861, and who afterwards, as a manufacturer of Scales, at Binghamton, N. Y., came to be known as ''Jones he pays the freight" and who still later became Lieut. Governor of the State of New York. During 1855, a young Englishman by the name of Geo. H. Reay, a born me- chanic, came to West & Berlin seeking work and was hired, and Rabbate's refractory French machine was given over to him to wrestle with. This was his opportunity and while he did not make much headway with the Rabbate machine, its very stubbornness bred in him the germ of invention and his mind began to work on a machine of his own. In 1856, Mr. Reay left Berlin & Jones and associated himself with Butler & Bryan who were operating a small handfold- ing envelope factory in Brooklyn, N. Y. 12 About this time Mr. Butler sold his interest in the firm to Mr. Louis Negbaur, who eventually acquired Bryan's interest also and continued the business alone. Mr. Reay, with the knowledge and experi- ence gained while working on the Rabbate machine, had developed ideas of his own for an envelope-folding machine. The funds for its partial development were fur- nished by Mr. Negbaur and the machine built by Mr. Reay was first known in the trade as the "Negbaur machine," taking the name of the man who furnished the money for its construction rather than the name of the man who furnished the brains for its development. ffgmmm 9. -i M i.-ji 11 ' v^ PHOTOGRAPH OF GEO. H. REAY'S MODEL the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which Patent No. 39,702 was issued Aug. 25, 1863, assigned to Louis Negbaur 13 Mr. Reay eventually obtained other capi- tal and completed the development of his machine on his own account and gave to his machine the name Reay and for years it was the leading envelope folding machine in the United States. The patent on the Reay machine No. 39,702 was issued August 25, 1863, thus showing that Mr. Reay had been work- ing more than seven years on his machine before the patent was issued. While this develop- ment work was being done, the years had been slipping by and many mechanical minds had been at WOrk On envelope-fold- George H. Reay ing machinery - - Dr. Patented Aug. 25, 1863. No. 39,702 R. L. Hawes, of Wor- cester, Mass., had perfected his machine, which up to this time led all the others.^ W. W. Cotton of New York, W. H. Low of Albany, N. Y., Milton G. Puffer of Rockville, Conn., Theodore Bergner of Philadelphia, Pa., Duff & Keating of New York, J. Armstrong of Phila- delphia, Pa. , James Greene Arnold of Worcester, Mass., had all succeeded in making envelope machines, and while some of them made en- velopes after a fashion, neither the product in quantity nor quality was wholly satisfactory. In addition, there were many others whose names are forgotten who worked on envelope machinery, but because they never applied for patents on what they had done no record has been preserved and their names, even, have been lost, though without doubt other men perfected their ideas and eventually some of their ideas were incor- porated into the successful machines which were known in the industry by the names of other men. In this class was an envelope-folding machine invented by Leonard Ankele, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Novem- ber 1, 1823, and who came to America about the year 1850 or 1851. While working at his trade with Martin Rau at their shop in Christie Street, New York City, he made a small working model of his machine (which model has recently been acquired from his son Robert Ankele, for the Museum of the United States Envelope Com- pany) . We can find no rec- ord that any of these ma- chines were ever built nor was it ever patented and it evidently belongs to that class of in- ventions referred to in the paragraph above. In a letter from his son Robert Ankele, dated April 8, 1916, he says : "Mother used to tell us boys (there were two of us) that father had labored many days and nights per- LEONARD ANKELE Died Oct. 8, 1897. Aged 74 fecting his machine and he wanted to draw all their small savings from the bank and patent his invention, but mother did not approve of his risking all they had saved in the venture, and so the machine was never patented. Mother also said that other men used his ideas in the development of their machines and he never realized a penny for all his thought and hard work. It is not possible to exactly determine the date of this invention but I think it was about the year 1863, for I distinctly remember, as a small boy, seeing and being interested in the little machine when I was running in and out of the Christie Street shop, which must have been about that year." Mr. Ankele afterwards be- came interested in the manufacture of envelope cutting dies and was for many years recognized as one of the leaders in that industry. He died in New York City, Octo- ber 8, 1897, at the age of 74. These were the con- ditions when in 1863 Mr. Reay put his ma- chine upon the market. He did not at this time manufacture envelopes, but confined his energies to the building of envelope machinery; and while many of the smaller firms making envelopes had by this Leonard Ankele's Model About 1863 time crude machines for doing part of their work, they did not try to patent their inven- tions, preferring the protection of a lock and key to the rather doubtful protection some- times secured through a patent, the issuing of which patent would simply advertise to every competitor what they had succeeded in ac- complishing, and as they were not building machines for sale in the market but only for their own use they preferred the protection of the lock and key. As a result, there has been left no record of many of these early inventions, many of which, while crude, had in them the germ of progress and future development. For years the Reay machine was practi- cally the only successful machine which could be bought in the open market, and while not a self-gummer and not up to present- day machines for product, it can be truthfully said that after fifty years of development, no machine has ever yet been invented that will fold high-grade envelopes better than the Reay machine, which was one of the pioneer envelope machines of the world. The name of Geo. H. Reay is entitled to a high and honorable place in the field of en- velope machinery invention. It is a source of regret that after patient investigation we have been unable to find a likeness of any kind of the man who, through his machine, left an enduring mark upon the infant industry. As we look back now we wonder why these pioneer inventions were not protected THE GEO. H. REAY MACHINE Patent 39,702. Aug. 25, 1863 by patents, but to appreciate the situation we need to have a knowledge of the primitive mechanical conditions which prevailed 50 or 60 years ago and that it was a compara- tively new thing to seek patent protection. The patent system of the United States was inaugurated by an act of Congress passed in 1790. By this act, the Secretary of War, Secretary of State and the Attorney General, or any two of them, were given the power to grant patents to inventors whose discovery they deemed sufficiently useful and impor- tant, the inventor to enjoy the exclusive benefits of his invention for a term of four- teen years. In 1793, the power to grant patents was vested in the Secretary of State subject to the approval of the Attorney General. In 1836, the necessities of the inventors having outgrown the capacity of the State Department as then constituted, a sub-department was created, to be known as the Patent Office, to which the powers and duties of the Secretary of State in refer- ence to patents were transferred. The records of the Patent Office as a sub-department of the Government begin with 1836, and from that year to 1860 inclu- sive (25 years), there were issued 33,491 patents and re-issues of patents, an average of approximately only 1,340 per year. From 1861 to 1865, inclusive (5 years), there were issued 22,667 patents and re-issues of patents, and from 1866 to 1915, inclusive (50 years), there were issued 1,172,000 patents and re- issues of patents. During the fiscal year 1914, there were issued 44,402 patents and re-issues of patents. During those early years the patents granted were very broad, covering as they did pioneer or bed-rock inventions and the claims of the inventors were interpreted liberally rather than technically by both the patent office and the courts. The descrip- tion of the inventions often did not go much into detail and today we have but a faint conception of the way in which those patents for original inventions pre-empted the ground and for years in a sense held all other inventors at bay. The problem confronting the inventor in those days was an entirely different prob- lem from that which the ordinary inventor faces today, when there is so much that is common in the art. Then inventions were not improvements on existing machines or methods, but new creations "making some- thing out of nothing." While originality of invention is now and always has been very scarce, there is now a large amount of- the results of mechanical ingenuity available on which to graft minor improvements, and today it is often these minor improvements which make the original invention effective. In other words, the pioneer inventor having laid the foundation, many other minor inventors have each added their unit to rear the superstructure of the present effec- tive machine. And again, when an idea had been evolved these men had none of the modern up-to-date equipment to help them. They had only the crudest of tools with which to construct the working parts of their machines. I have just said that these early patents pre-empted the ground and held other in- ventors at bay; and while that is true, there is, however, another point of view. As stated in the word of God, the prize is "to him that overcometh," and that applies to invention and industry as well as to things spiritual — if there are no problems to solve, no obstacles to overcome, then no great overcoming strength is ever developed; but, just because the way seemed to be hedged 20 up, men strove to find some other way to accomplish the results they were seeking. This stimulated thought, and with the record before them of what other men had been able to accomplish a score of men would often be at work trying to find another way of doing, and they often did find a better way, so that, looked at in a broad sense, the holding power of the patent was, perhaps in the long run, a distinct economic gain though for the time being it may have held things back. Do not infer from this that the inventor to whom was issued the pioneer patent had any great advantage on a great many inventions ; he simply held the ground against other inventors, marking time and often making little or no advance. The im- provements which finally made the pioneer patent effective were often from the ideas furnished by other men, but as they could not use the invention of the pioneer, and he could not use theirs, it often happened that the patent simply held them both. I refer to these facts to show that in a large degree the early patents held things back, and also to give emphasis to the fact that as soon as those early patents began to expire and other men could avail them- selves of the work of the pioneer inventor, then an army of minor inventors, being free to use the pioneer invention, began to do their work. The beginning of the wonderful advance in industry through mechanical inven- tion really dates no farther back than from '80 to '90. Less than the business life of men who are still young covers the wonder- ful growth of this country in this line. It was when these early patents began to expire that the germ of present competitive condi- tions found soil suited to its development. ^gggjtSM llgKB-j 1 m B BERLIN & JONES 20 William St., New York. 1856 Let us now return to the story of Berlin & Jones. In 1856 their salesroom was re- moved from the factory in the rear of 120 William Street to 134 William Street, BERLIN & JONES 534 Water St., New York. 1857 and in the following year, 1857, the factory was moved to 534 Water Street. In this building was located a small machine shop operated by Duff & Keating (Mr. Duff having been an adjuster for Berlin & Jones). They had become interested in the develop- ment of envelope machinery and Berlin & Jones hired them to build such a machine and they were eventually successful in building it. PHOTOGRAPH OF DUFF & KEATING'S MODEL In the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which Patent No. 22,78! was issued Feb. 1, 1859 The first J. B. Duff and T. W. Keating machine required two girls to operate it, as shown in the illustration, which is from an old advertisement (without date) of 23 DUFF & KEATING, Patented Feb. I, 1859 [From an old advertisement] J. M. D. KEATING Patent No. -39, 053, June 30, 1863 [From an old advertisement] Berlin & Jones. This machine was fed by hand by the girl in front and the girl at the rear of the machine banded and boxed the completed en- velopes as they were delivered. After Duff & Keating had in- vented their hand- fed envelope-fold- ing machine their ambition then was to make it into a self-feeding ma- chine, and event- 24 ually they were able to accomplish this. The machine was then further improved so that instead of discharging the completed envel- opes at the rear of the machine the completed envelopes were delivered to the girl in front, as shown in the illustration, thereby requiring the services of only one girl to operate the machine. PHOTOGRAPH OF J. M. D. KEATING'S MODEL In the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which Patent No. 39,053 was issued June 30, 1863 Their ambition then was to make a self -gumming machine, but this they were never able to accomplish. As so often happens with inventors, the man with the original idea can only go so far and he then finds himself utterly unable to take the next step 25 so essential to complete success, or as an old inventor once said to me : "The ditch was ten feet wide and I could only jump eight feet and so I landed in the ditch." So in the case of Duff & Keating. They were never able to reach their goal. The self-gumming and folding envelope machine was the dream of about every inven- tor who was working on envelope-folding machinery and they were all working hard to make their dream come true. Duff & Keating, while having made very material contributions to the art were not able as we would say today "to deliver the goods," — i. e., to make a self-gumming machine. But they laid foundations upon which other men were permitted to build, so while they did not reach their goal, we must not write "failure" against their names, for in their day they were the leaders. The story of Berlin & Jones will be con- tinued in a future number of The Red Envelope. 20 ^ggP^ The Hall-mark of Quality Sty? 2Ui Enfold July, 1916 Number 6 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. THE MAN OVER THERE AND THE JOB OVER THERE By the "G. M." NOTE— Recently the "G. M." was asked to prepare an article for one of the leading magazines, answering the question propounded below. "When selecting men for executive positions, shall we go outside of our organization or shall we promote from our own ranks?" Shall we depend on an in- fusion of "new blood" or shall we develop our own "raw material?" With many people the only thing that really looks good is the thing that is "over there." For example : In riding through the country (provided you run your automobile slowly enough so that you can take in the beauty of "God's great out-of-doors") the field near at hand shows the hills, the hollows, the rocks and the stubble, while the field on the other side of the valley looks like a lawn; but when you get near enough to make a critical examination you find that that field, too, has its full proportion of hills, hollows, rocks and stubble. And again, in making investments, men have often passed by splendid opportunities near at home which gave promise of a splendid return, but the investment "over there" of which they knew little or absolutely nothing, had an attraction which captured their money and later on they found they had purchased a gold brick. In like manner in the selection of men, men sometimes see wonderful ability in the man "over there" who may be in the employ of a competitor but they utterly fail to appre- ciate the faithfulness, efficiency and, what may count for more than these, the loyalty of the man near at hand. They forget that when they are negoti- ating with the man "over there" only his good points are on exhibition, but after the engagement has been made and the man begins his work, then his weak points are developed and it often happens that when the debits and credits have all been set down and comparisons made, with men over whom this man has been promoted, then they learn that their own man, who was so near that his weak points were noted and set down to his debit while his good points in the account- ing had been entirely overlooked. Some managers can see wonderful ability in the man "over there" and appear to labor under the impression that if they can secure that man's services their success will be assured, but how often failure and disap- pointment have been the result of such a transfer, and the reason for failure often lies right on the surface. The facts are simply these : In the old place there was a momentum which this man did not create, although perhaps (though not always) he may have given the acquired momentum direction, but that momentum was not his; he did not create it and he could not transfer it to the other concern, and this man who has been transferred now sees, perhaps for the first time, that his success in his former position was the result of training which he did not give, and of faithfulness, loyalty and "know how" on the part of scores or hundreds of other men and women who got no credit whatever, but who furnished their due pro- portion of the elements which made for success. It is one problem to direct a force of men or women who have been through years of training organized into a working team and quite another problem to direct a body of men and women who have never been taught how to do things right, and this is usually the team which the man hired from "over there" is expected to make good with. The bare fact that one must look elsewhere for line officers is good evidence that privates and non-commissioned officers have not been well trained if the line officers when needed must be drawn from outside sources. Many employers make the mistake of never training men themselves but depend on 'men hired from their competitors or from other outside sources. No doubt it may be wise at times to go outside and get an "infu- sion of new blood." It is sometimes an abso- lute necessity, for an organization can become hidebound in methods; but, on general prin- ciples, I have no hesitation whatever in saying if you want good men who will fit into your working organization you must be willing to pay the price of training your own men. One of the finest, though one of the in- tangible, assets which cannot be set down in the dollars and cents column and added up, and yet which determines the figures which will finally appear in the Profit and Loss account, is the asset of Loyalty and Good-Will ; and an employer has no right to expect loyalty from his men if, when higher positions of responsibility are to be filled, men from the outside are promoted over the heads of faith- ful and loyal men who often are more com- petent than the man who has been brought in from "over there" and who, had they been given the same opportunity to make good that was given to the outsider, would have made good. At all events they were entitled to the first chance to try. Promotions are often made where the per- son promoted fails to make good. A man may do splendid work as a Lieutenant or "Second in Command" and yet miserably fail as a Captain, but I do not believe there are so many failures in the promotions from the ranks as from the promotions from the out- side. Some years ago, during the late Governor Draper's administration, the Governor called together at the State House for conference on Industrial Education some thirty-odd Pres- idents and Managers of the larger industries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and at that meeting I gave expression to the thoughts expressed above. A gentleman sitting next to me, but whom I did not then know, said, "There have not been truer words spoken in this conference." He then added, "We have in our organiza- tion some hundred and thirty-odd men as Superintendents and Foremen, and perhaps I am to blame in not being able to make wise selections, but I can truthfully say that for ten years I have not hired a single man from outside who in my judgment proved superior to men who were so near to me that I saw their weak points and failed to appre- ciate their good points, two of which you have named, and those two points, loyalty and faith- fulness, are worth much more than executive ability if loyalty and faithfulness are lacking." All of the above presupposes that there is to be selection and training in the men pro- moted. Formerly no such selections were made. For example — In the old days busi- ness was usually started in a small way and in the office a young man was hired as book- keeper and he did pretty much all the office work that was not done by the proprietor. In time, as the business grew, another clerk was hired and in the course of years the office staff had grown till there were a dozen clerks and the man who chanced to be hired first had become the chief clerk, and the only qualification that he ever had for the place was that he had happened to be hired first. Being Chief Clerk, in time he became Super- intendent, Agent or Manager, and at each promotion instead of growing to fill the place the position was shrunk to fit him. He had never grown and had simply held a position which he had never filled, but his being there had prevented someone else from filling the position who could, and who, had he been given the opportunity, would have rendered larger service. Wonderful strides have been made in devel- oping the forces of nature and the inventor and mechanic have so perfected machinery that it has become almost human. In doing his work the mechanical inventor studies out a machine in which all the parts are to work together to produce a given result; but he deals with inanimate material; his work is wrought out along fixed mechanical lines; he knows in advance just how each gear, spring, cam, pulley and lever will do its work. Its power to do is a mechanical certainty. He does not give to his machine any latitude whatever, and all the initiative must come from him. He thinks, so to speak, for every part of the machine. The executive must also be an inventor; he, too, studies out a working machine, where all the parts are to work in harmony to pro- duce a given result, but he deals not with inanimate material, however cunningly de- vised and put together, but with men with wonderful possibilities of initiative to help or hinder the working of the great organiza- tion. The organizing executive must have a knowl- edge of men exactly as a mechanical engineer must have a knowledge of materials and mechanics. The right men must be selected, trained and fitted into their proper places in this vast industrial machine, and these men must have in their make-up a harmonious blending of science, practice, and, in addition, commercial efficiency. The success of every business hinges on this one thing — ability to select, properly train and manage men. We have standardized methods and machines, but we can never standardize human beings. The individual equation must always be considered, for that is the controlling factor. It is more than an educational or industrial problem — it is a human problem. And now for a look at the problem from another angle of vision. "THE JOB OVER THERE" Every word that has been written about the man "over there" applies with equal force to the "job over there." When the man is being hired, the hills, hollows, rocks and stubble are not shown, but when he is anchored then they appear, and the bare fact that among the non-commissioned officers or privates there was no one fitted to be a captain shows that there must be something radically wrong in the organization, and the man who is hired from "over there" to make good on "the job over there" sometimes has a rather rude awakening because he is expected to make good with an aggregation of workers which is not an organization, because those two words are not synonymous. They do not mean the same thing by a good deal, and too often such a man is handicapped by men who, because he comes in from the outside, want him to fall down, are bound he shall not make good, and it is just that spirit and a lack of helpful co-operation which makes the aggregation an impossibility for the high- est success, and that is why they had to go outside to get the man from "over there." Another point, in the place where this man has been trained, he has had equipment and tools to work with. In the new place he has nothing, but he is expected to make good just the same. He must make brick without straw. He has been measurably happy in his old place but he has now been transferred into an uncongenial atmosphere and he is unhappy, and no man can do his best work in uncon- genial, unsympathetic surroundings. How true it is what one of the men connected with our company said to me: "Three-quarters of all the fun I shall get out of life I must get inside the four walls of the factory where I earn my living, and if I am unhappy there, then my work will not be a success, nor will my life be a success either." That is a foundation truth. Still another point. The man transferred may have been in the old place ten, perhaps fifteen, years, and he is by just so much older than when he began before and he will not be able so easily to adjust himself to the new con- ditions and the likelihood is that he will never really take root in the new place. I believe I can say with truth that hardly a man who has left the U. S. E. Co. in the now almost eighteen years of its corporate life but has desired to come back. Some years ago, in talkingwith the Manager of one of the largest industries in this country, he said: Hardly a man who had been hired away from their company in over ten years had made good in the new place, because all he could transfer was himself. 10 The efficiency of the working team which was the result of years of training, was not transferable. The policy of the United States Envelope Company has been to promote from the ranks its line and staff officers. With one single exception every Manager, Assistant Manager, Superintendent, and Assistant Su- perintendent, has been developed in the ser- vice of the Company. THE ARTIST'S PRECEPT PAI TA-SHUN I would not paint a face Or rocks or streams or trees — Mere semblances of things — But something more than these. I would not play a tune Upon the sheng or lute, Which did not also sing Meanings that else were mute. That art is best which gives To the soul's range no bound; Something beside the form, Something beyond the sound. — Harper s Weekly, April 4, 191 4. 11 > J ^, CO 0. GO ^ ^ 5 Q Z .a O O CM .a > a *« j-s * 6 u ►> *■ £ S? c s S ~<5 s ei 3 t 2 E V © I & c a 8° £ 8 2 * UJ >■ L -J < w > I * > i- U.' U m Z5 . (/) 0. U 2 u °- h uj > in?, a a. ui Q. < Z E < O 2 2 0) «J < < 6 Q 2 o o en zi uj 3 S3 2 > 0) < o i z Q UJ . a z u ui S 5 o * " ? UI 0- IS UI uj < u r- "! h Q UJ >■ J <£ < Ui S . < Z - I o h o -! co co < . 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O Q . 2 < U U ui ui z Z uj q: uj d a i < m o: ui i THE MAKING OF A MAN From "The Courage of the Commonplace, by mary raymond shipman andrews, Scribners, July, 1911 "One looks at the smooth faces of boys of twenty and wonders what the sculptor Life is going to make of them. We who have known his work know what sharp tools are in his kit; we know the tragic possibilities as well as the happy ones of those inevitable strokes; we shrink a bit as we look at the smooth faces of the boys and realize how that clay must be moulded in the workshop — how the strong lines which ought to be there some day must come from the cutting of pain and the grinding of care and the push and weight of responsibility. Yet there is service and love too, and happiness and the slippery bright blade of success in the kit of Life the sculptor; so we stand and watch, a bit pitifully, but hopefully, as the work begins, we cannot guide the chisel but a little way, yet would not, if we could, stop it, for the finished job is going to be, we trust, a man, and only the sculptor Life can make such." 16 HENRY D. SWIFT Asred 30 HENRY D. SWIFT Aged 78 AN APPRECIATION HENRY D. SWIFT 1833-1916 In the February number of The Red Envelope, reference was made to Mr. Henry D. Swift, saying that he was the nearest approach to a Saint that one might ever expect to meet on this side of the "Great Divide" and that with his four score years he was now enjoying the gloaming of a fruitful, well-spent life. Since the above paragraph was written Mr. Swift has passed from the scenes of earth and we may be permitted to say some things about him which can, and it would seem, ought to be said. It is my intention in a later issue of The Red Envelope to deal somewhat at length with the life work of the two brothers, H. D. and D. W. Swift, who filled so large a place in the mechanical development of our indus- try. Mr. Swift was born in West Falmouth, Mass., May 21, 1833. His boyhood days were passed in his native town. When he was thirteen years of age, owing to business reverses his father's modest competence was swept away and the family was left in rather straightened circumstances. This ended his schooling and he was thus early in life thrown largely upon his own resources. He inherited the mechanical instinct and at an early age developed a fondness for tools and learned the trade of cabinet making. Mr. Swift was a birthright member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). During the Civil War, in the spring of 1863, he was drafted into the army but claimed exemption from military service on the ground of his being a Quaker, one of whose principles is that it is wrong to take human life, and under the circumstances he refused to perform military service. He was sent to the training camp for conscripts at Concord, Mass., and ordered to take part in military training which he resolutely refused to do, claiming that it was contrary to the dictates of his conscience. For his insubordination he was confined in the guardhouse, but he still adhered to his determination and refused to take part in military drill. He was then sent to other training camps at Long Island and Boston Harbor but as it was a matter of conscience with him, he would not surrender nor would he accept his pay from the Government. He was punished by being ' 'bucked down," i. e., he was bent up double so that a rifle barrel could be passed under his knees and over his elbows; and, tied up in this cramped position, he was allowed to remain for hours at a time. He was told if his insubordination continued he would be tried by court-martial and shot for disobedience of orders ; and to emphasize just what that meant he was taken out and made to witness a military execution, but still he would not surrender. He was then detailed as a hospital steward, which service he was glad to render, being willing to save life but not to take life, but as he continued his insubordination and refused to perform military service he was finally tried by court- martial and sentenced to be shot, the day being set for his execution. At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Stephen A. Chase, Lynn, Mass., and Chas. R. Tucker, of New Bedford, Mass., both prominent members of the Society of Friends, visited Washington, D. C, and laid his case before President Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, and a stay of execution was granted. As his health had been im- paired by the experiences through which he had been passing he was finally paroled and eventually received an honorable discharge from the army. 19 It was immediately after these experiences in the spring of 1864, that he came to Wor- cester and found employment at his trade as a cabinet maker. Through his church connection he became acquainted with James Greene Arnold, and through his acquaintance he became interested in the envelope industry, and probably no man has left a larger impress on the mechan- ical development of the industry than he did. He was a lover of nature and devoted much of his leisure time to the study of astronomy and at his summer home in West Falmouth he had a well-equipped astronomical observ- atory from which he derived great pleasure during the years after his retirement from active business. He was of the type of the old New England self-taught inventive genius which is fast disappearing. In one of Lord Byron's poems he says: — "When some proud son of man returns to earth, Unknown to glory but upheld by birth, The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe, And storied urns record who rest below; When all is done, upon the tomb is seen, Not what he was, but what he should have been." This cannot truthfully be said of our friend for nothing which could be written about him could overstate the fineness of his mind or the beauty, sweetness and purity of his life, which, while having these fine qualities, yet was not lacking in strength and virility for he was a strong, manly man. 20 In the popular mind the great man is bold, haughty and stern, self-centered and self- reliant. If these only are great then this term may not be applied to our friend Swift, for he was a modest man. Someone has well and truthfully said that true greatness, after all, in spite of its name, is not so much a certain size as a certain quality in human lives, measured by that standard, our friend was -great. He had that certain quality of mind and heart which called out the love and affection of those with whom he was associated. Personal influence, after all, makes a more lasting impression than personal effort. Effort is assertive, influence is pervasive. Earnest endeavor in right directions is the best that most well-meaning men can do, but the steady influence of a good character in the long run counts for more and this influence is quite unconsciously absorbed by others. The seed of influence sown in a thousand furrows at times of which no one is conscious, not even the sower, bears its harvest as a memorial of one who once passed that way — no other memorial compares in beauty or permanence with the impression that is left on other lives, and with the affection that goes with that impression. It sometimes happens that we live so near to a really great and fine life that we utterly fail to appreciate it at its true value. We are so near to it that we do not get the proper perspective, and so we are hardly conscious of its influence'; but that, after all, constitutes its greatest power that we are not conscious of its mould- ing and refining influence on ourselves, but when death comes with its wonderful silence and all the jarring voices of earth are hushed, then, and then only, can a correct estimate be made of the true value of a good and forceful life, which, having passed through the fire of life, the dross has vanished and only the pure gold remains. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge gave a brief and correct summing up of the really worth- while things of life when he said: "As we grow older and the shadows begin to lengthen and the leaves which seemed so thick in youth above our heads grow thin and show the sky, and as those in the ranks in front drop away and we come in sight, as we all must, of the eternal rifle pits beyond, a man begins to feel that among the really precious things in life, more lasting and more substantial than many of the objects of ambition here, is the love of those he loves and the friendship of those whose friendship he prizes." Standing before the open grave of a strong man clears the mind of the little things for which we strive and which we think impor-. tant. It also brings into relief the real things of life, of which friendships are preeminent. The really permanent things of life after all are not the material things which can be seen and handled. There are things of more real value even than money which is the measure of so many earthly possessions. There are things which money cannot buy 22 and which death cannot take away and our friend Swift was rich in such possessions. In closing, may we paraphrase a quotation from Ian Maclaren's "Bonnie Brier Bush" — "In the humble home of the Scottish peasant every cottage has at least two rooms, the kitchen, where the work of the home is done, and that is called the 'But' and to that room all kinds of people come. Then, there is the inner room, which holds the family treasures, like the family bible, the grandfather clock, the chest of drawers and other treasures, and that is called the 'Ben,' and to that room none but the favored few have entrance." So in the life of each of us there is a "But" and a "Ben" — the "But" where we meet the crowd and the "Ben," or inner circle of our friendships, where only the privileged few are permitted to enter. Into the "Ben," or inner circle of the life of our friend, it has been a great pleasure to enter and to enjoy with him thirty-eight years of active business life. JAMES TuOGJS.^, General Manager. The Hall-mark of Quality ®Ip> Sri lEttolfljr? October, 1916 Number 7 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. A PRAYER We thank thee for this place in which we dwell; for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us; for the hope with which we expect the morrow; for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies, that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers in this Isle. Help us to repay in service one to another the debt of Thine unmerited benefits and mercies. Grant that we may be set free from the fear of vicissitude and death, may finish what remains of our course without dishonor to ourselves or hurt to others, and give at last rest to the weary. — Robert Louis Stevenson. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry in New York City (Continued from No. 5) by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER IV June 30, 1863, patent No. 39,053 was granted to John M. D. Keating of New York. This patent made an important contribu- tion to the art to which Mr. Keating referred in a later patent, No. 62,274, issued February 19, 1867. _ In describing his invention Mr. Keating said: "The first part of my invention con- sists in making the bed for the face of the envelope, adjustable in combination with a folding mechanism, so that the envelope may be folded loose or tight and also readily adjusted to varying thicknesses of paper." To accomplish this result Keating used what is now known as the drop box con- struction; that is, a trap which comes up at the proper time and against which the blank is forced in the usual way by means of the plunger. Keating's drop box, however, was hollow, having around its four sides a sort of rim or bead. Within the enclosure thus formed was placed a metal plate flush with the rim or upturned edges of the swing- ing trap. This made literally a box of the whole structure, having in all six sides, top, bottom and the four bounding walls. This top side was the one to which the adjustment was given. This was done by means of a wedge-shaped piece of metal, shown in the cut below, which was made to slide, when- ever desired, between the upper and lower plates by means of a screw adjustment. In this manner the folding box could be adjusted for either thick or thin envelopes, and Keat- ing was allowed a very broad claim on this structure which reads as follows : "The adjustable bed in combination with the folding mechanism substantially as described whereby the machine can be readily adjusted to fold the envelope loose or tight, and for varying thick- nesses of paper substantially as described and set forth." From the drawings filed with the application of John M. D. Keating, New York Patent issued June 30, 1867, No. 39,053 For Folding Envelopes thick or thin There are other features of this patent which cover details of a moving conveyor or carriage with means for operating it, but these features are not as important as the adjustable box feature before mentioned. This appeared to be the first time provision was made for folding envelopes thick or thin (i. e., what we would now say 34 M's and }/2 M's), and for accommodating the different thicknesses of paper. Photograph of John M. D. Keating's model in the Patent Office, Wash- ington, D. C, for which Patent No. 62,274 was issued February 19, 1867 Counting Mechanism A novel feature in the patent No. 62,274, February 19, 1867, appears to be the introduction of a counting mechanism in combination with a folding machine. Keat- ing provided at the rear of the machine a wheel containing four pockets. These pockets were carried in a revolving drum. Into these pockets the envelopes were deliv- ered one at a time. When twenty-five had accumulated in any one pocket the pocket wheel, by means of a ratchet and cam mechan- ism, was made to revolve quickly forward and present another pocket to the oncoming envelopes. This counting mechanism was positively driven from the machine and counted the revolutions of the machine. The counting mechanism was going all the time and if we assume that the machine made no waste and that no product was From the drawings filed with the application of John M. D. Keating, New York. Patent issued February 19, 1867, No. 62,274 Counting Mechanism 6 lost while loading the machine with the envelope blanks it would have been a per- fect counting mechanism, but every time the machine made waste and when feeding the machine the counter kept on counting so that it had small value as a counter, but even though crude and imperfect it was a step in advance. Keating, because of the very early date of this patent, was granted a broad claim covering the counting feature. This claim is as follows: "The counting mechanism in com- bination with folding apparatus con- structed and operating substantially as described and specified." _ Many other counting mechanisms have since been built, more perfect in detail and operation, but Keating blazed the way into the unknown. This was not the first counting mechanism invented, though it seems to have been the first one patented. Sometime prior to 1858, James Greene Arnold, of Worcester, Mass., had invented a counting mechanism for his envelope machine which will be described in a future number of the Red Envelope, but the invention was never patented by Arnold and Arnold's invention was probably unknown to Keating. Duff and Keating, while having made very material contributions to the envelope industry, had not succeeded in producing a self -gumming and folding machine, but JAMES B. DUFF JAMES B. DUFF In early life Taken in 1882 Born 1823. Died 1884 Two years before his death they had done foundation work upon which other men were to build. In 1863, Berlin & Jones of New York employed an inventor named Thomas V. Waymouth, who had been working on paper- bag machinery and who brought to his new problem an experience gained in the other in- dustry. He brought also an open mind ; his mind had not been running in a groove and he was not hampered by the notion that things must be done along the line that inventors of envelope-folding machinery had been following. After an expenditure of about $20,000, which for those days was an enormous amount of money to expend for experimental work on a machine, Waymouth produced a self-gumming and folding envelope machine, using the Duff & Keating envelope-folding machine for a foundation, grafting his ideas on their machine. His application for a patent was filed in 1864 — the machine was completed in 1865 and patents were finally issued in 1866-67. From drawings filed with the application of Thomas V. Waymouth, New York City Patent issued No. 58,327, September 25, 1866 Reissued No. 2,787, October 22, 1867 As previously stated the patents issued for many of these early inventions were very broad and pre-empted the ground, holding all other inventors at bay. Take, for example, a single illustration which could be multiplied by the hundred in every line of industry. From drawings filed with the application of Thomas V. Waymouth, New York City Patent issued No. 58,327, September 25, 1866 Reissued No. 2,787, October 22, 1867 The invention of Thomas V. Waymouth, New York, for which patent No. 58,327 was issued September 25, 1866, reissued as No. 2,787 October 22, 1867, covered the first successful self-gumming plunger envelope-folding machine and was known in the trade as the "Berlin & Jones Leader," and it was indeed the leader and stood in a class by itself for years and held not only the middle of the road but also both sides of the road. One of the leading claims in this patent was for applying the gum to the two edges of the envelope blank in the machine, the language of the claim being as follows: Claim 1. "Gumming the seal flaps of the blanks for the envelopes simul- taneously or nearly so, with the lower or~end flaps, or during the time while the blank passes from the gumming to the folding mechanism, and by mechan- ism substantially such as herein described or any other suitable mechanism which will produce the same effect." Photograph of Thomas V. Waymouth model filed in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which Patent No. 58,327 was issued September 25, 1866 But even this claim Waymouth did not consider broad enough to fully cover the scope of his invention and immediately ap- plied for a re-issue of the patent. An application for the re-issue of a patent is virtually an admission on the part of the inventor that he did not cover or claim in his first application all that he was entitled to cover or claim as disclosed by the drawings and specifications which had been filed in the Patent Office, and if he can convince the Patent Office that his original application was defective in this respect the government, under certain conditions, grants permission to re-issue the patent, thus remedying the defect and the inventor is given the benefit of the prior date of invention on the re-issue but he is not per- mitted to read into his application any- thing that is not disclosed in his original drawings and specifications. Waymouth's re-issued patent No. 2,787, October 22, 1867, Claim 1, reads as below: Claim 1. "Gumming the seal flaps of the blanks, for envelopes at or about the same time with the lower or end flaps after the blanks are placed in the ma- chine, and before they are folded, by mechanism substantially such as de- scribed, or any other suitable mechanism to produce the same effect, or the pur- poses set forth." From the above it is apparent that Way- mouth covered the idea of gumming a blank before it was folded as he does not limit himself in his claim to the particular mechan- ism mentioned, but specifies "or any other suitable mechanism to produce the same effect for the purpose set forth." 12 Berlin & Jones "Leader" Envelope Machine, about 1870 As finally developed by Thomas V. Waymouth, New York 2 r I i n & Jones Leader" Envelope Machine, about 1870 finally developed by Thomas V. Waymouth, New York 13 Let an experienced envelope-machine in- ventor now, after all the steps of progress that have been made during the last fifty years, examine a plunger type of envelope- folding machine of today and then read the claim in this re-issued patent and then try to suggest a method by which this pro- cess of gumming the two flaps of an envelope blank could be done without using Way- mouth's dies, or as they are now called "pickers," or done in any other than the way which was broadly covered by the claims for the primary invention by Way- mouth, and he will, in a sense, appreciate the problem which some of the other pioneer inventors faced to try to get past Waymouth's patents without infringement, and he will conclude that the problem of the inventor of today, with so much that is common in the art, is an entirely different problem. Waymouth was the first to accomplish the gumming of the back flap and seal flap in a plunger envelope -folding machine and he, being the pioneer who had blazed the way through the unknown, was entitled to a broad claim, having made not an im- provement over the existing method, but having made a real invention, an addition to the art, doing something that had never been done before. This was one of the problems which confronted H. D. & D. W. Swift in their efforts to make a self-gumming and folding envelope machine for G. Henry Whitcomb & Co., Worcester, Mass., which would not infringe on Waymouth's patents, and how did they accomplish it? The Swifts utilized the back picker which was old in the art, and by it gummed the "back flap" of the envelope blank in the usual way (i. e., the flap that was stuck down to form the envelope). The "seal flap" was gummed by means of a rubber gumming roller and a shield or stencil plate cut out on one side in the form of the gummed portion of the flap. This shield or plate was operated in connection with the back picker and was arranged to descend and lie on the pile of blanks at each revolution of the ma- chine. This shield covered practically the entire surface of the envelope blank except that portion which was to be gummed before referred to as the "seal flap". After the plate had descended to its place upon the pile of blanks the rubber gumming roll was made to roll across the stencil plate toward the front of the machine (rather than across the front of the machine as in most other machines) and over the exposed part or "seal flap" portion of the envelope blank, and in this way they applied the gum directly to the paper without the aid of a picker; this never having been done before, was a primary invention. With this construction it was found de- sirable to gum the "seal flap" before the "back flap" picker descended so that the "back" and "seal" flaps were not gummed "simultaneously or nearly so," one flap being gummed by the forward movement of the gumming roll, the gum being applied directly to the paper, the back flap picker being gummed by the roll on its return. If desired, a much wider seal could be applied than with the Waymouth method, and this invention did not infringe either the spirit or letter of the Waymouth patent. The manufacture of paper in those early days had not reached its present state of perfection and the calendaring of paper was far from perfect. The calendar rolls being uneven, sometimes a ream of paper would be considerably thicker on one edge of the ream than the other, which difference was reproduced in the envelope blank so that as the pile of blanks lay on the feed board in the envelope-folding machine one side of the pile would be higher than the other. This caused great waste in the manufacture of envelopes. The gumming picker which elevated the envelope blank to the carriage which carried the blank to the folding box would only gum one side of the blank, i. e., it would only gum the high side, thus the picker would only elevate one side of the blank so that both sides of the blank were not raised sufficiently high to clear the carriage, which would catch and tear the blank in its upward movement. This caused an enormous waste, a waste which is still made on unevenly calendared paper. This was also a great source of trouble to the Swifts in their machine, for when the stencil descended to the top of the pile of blanks it would rest on the high side of the 16 pile and the gumming roller which rolled across the paper could not touch the low side of the pile of envelope blanks. This made very imperfect gumming, one side of the sealing flap having practically no gum on it. The Swifts finally got over this difficulty by taking from the stencil that part of the plate which gave the form to the gum on the sealing flap and by so doing the gumming roller struck the top blank further back from the point of the flap, thus practically gumming the entire flap of the envelope. When envelopes so gummed were placed on the market they found favor at once and were called ' 'Safety Gummed," and thus the troublesome problem was solved at a profit, for the public for years paid 5c. per M. more to have them gummed in this way. Claim 4 in the Waymouth re-issued patent was also very broad and very troublesome for other inventors. Claim 4. "The combination, with mechanism adapted to gum the seal and other flaps of envelope blanks, of a folding mechanism so arranged and operating as to prevent the seal flap being brought in contact with the other flaps or parts of the blank and adhering thereto." In this claim Waymouth covered broadly the idea of any means which would pre- vent the seal flap coming in contact with 17 the other parts of the envelope. This, of course, was to prevent the seal flap as we now say from "sticking down" to the body of the envelope. One inventor applied an air blast but this it was claimed infringed the Waymouth patent, the court ruling that air was something and acted as a cushion and hence "operated" as to prevent the seal flap being brought in contact with the other flaps. Paper in those early days was not so hard-sized and snappy as it now is and did not have the spring that it has today. It was more limp and lifeless. Being made entirely from rags it had more of the character of cloth. The seal flap of the envelope having been coated with wet gum, the folding mechanism of the self -gumming envelope machine could only give the edge of the sealing flap a sharp pinch and the natural spring of the paper was expected to make the flap spring back so that the wet gum on the seal flap would not adhere to the body of the envelope. If the sealing flap folder did more than give the paper this sharp pinch, the flap would adhere to the body of the envelope and the flap, being stuck down by the machine, the envelope would be useless. How did the Swifts get past this patent? In a very simple way and yet it was years before they or other inventors found a way to do it. They made a slight bevel on the edge of the bed of the folding box and then, by setting the folder which folded the seal flap slightly below the plane of the top of the bed of the folding box, so that when the folding flap was performing its function it caught the sealing flap of the envelope on the bevel, giving it a slight pinch which canted the wet seal flap up at an angle and while the other folders were operating it held it there an instant so it could not stick to the body of the envelope. Another of the problems^which gave envel- ope-machine inventors an enormous amount of trouble was the separation of the en- velope blanks so that the machine would not pick up double and fold two blanks into one envelope, and the inventors who first hit upon successful separators had the other men coming behind them completely coopered for the time being. It was quite a trick to find a way to separate the single envelope blanks from the pile in the machine as rapidly as the pickers could pick them up. One of the early inventors found that when the blank was picked up by the gum- ming picker by bending the blank ever so little at the edge it could be readily sepa- rated from the pile. When the blank was bent in this way the air rushed in and made the separation. How was this done? The original inventor hung a small piece of pointed steel next to the pile of blanks in the machine and when the pickers were elevating the blank to the carriage to carry it over the folding box and under the plunger, this small piece of pointed steel held down the edge of the blank and, as the picker was elevated, the blank was drawn from under the pointed piece of steel which held down and bent the blank at the edge and the air did the rest. That patent was so broad that it pre- vented anyone else from using any appliance which rested on the pile of blanks to produce the same result. Eventually other men did get past the patent but it took years to work it out. How did the Swifts do it? They hung a small weight on a friction spring just above the back flap of the pile of blanks and every time the picker came down for a blank it set the weight down above the pile of blanks practically the thickness of a sheet of paper — a very delicate adjust- ment, but it worked. Immediately infringement was claimed and suit was brought, the contention being that the weight rested on the paper, and so it seemed ; but when the case was being tried and it seemed as if the Swifts must lose their case, while the human eye could not see space between the blanks and the weight separator, they were able to show by draw- ing a human hair between the separator and the blanks that the weight was not resting on the blanks, and the case was won. Claim 10 of the Waymouth re-issued patent was also so broad in its scope that it blocked the road for many of the inventors who were dreaming of envelope-folding machines. 20 Claim 10. "The combination with a suitable mechanism for gumming the flaps of envelopes and folding the envel- ope blanks of an endless apron, as de- scribed^ or any equivalent device or mechanism for receiving the envelopes after they are folded, and moving or supporting the same, without compres- sion, until the gum on the seal flaps is dried." The claim covers broadly the idea of the drying _ chain in an envelope machine. It states in very clear and concise terms the functions of a drying chain, whereas claims 6-7 in the original patent which attempted to cover this feature were limited to an " endless apron" with radiating plates or arms. It will be noted that Claim 10 of the re- issued patent mentions "an endless apron as described, or any equivalent device or mechanism for receiving the envelopes, etc.," thus greatly expanding the original claim. While the Waymouth drying chain was the first drying chain patented it was not the first invented. Between the years 1853- 1856 (the exact date cannot now be de- termined) James Greene Arnold, of Worcester, Mass., invented a rotary envelope machine which, while never a mechanical success, cannot be classed among the absolute fail- ures for it had in it several original me- chanical principles, among them the chain dryer, m which the envelopes were held apart while the gum on the sealing flaps was drying. 21 While Mr. Arnold was a patent solicitor, yet, as so often happens, he was so near to this child of his brain that he did not recognize the value of the several patentable features in his original inventions which were embodied in his machine. Instead of patenting the machine for making the envel- ope, he patented the envelope, the patent, No. 22,405 being issued December 28, 1858. The patent on the envelope was practically worthless, but had he patented the drying chain, pull-off, and other patentable mechani- cal features in his machine, his patents would have been of real value, for it was years after before the first successful self -gumming machine was invented and patented and it would have been practically impossible to have constructed such a machine without infringing the claims which could have been made on the Arnold drying chain, pull-off, etc., had such patent claims been properly prepared. ARNOLD DRYING CHAIN 1853-6 These were some of the problems that Waymouth solved in 1864-6, and the patents granted to him had expired and his inventions therefore had become common property and a part of the prior art before any of the men now inventing, building or operating envelope machinery, came upon the scene. These men of a later generation had never had to consider some of the prob- lems which the early pioneers faced. They could use all that Waymouth and other inventors had wrought out, but the men who were Waymouth 's contemporaries were not so fortunate. It took almost nine years for the Swift Brothers to solve their problems without infringing on Waymouth and these two Swift Brothers had the inventive faculty plus, and they probably added more to the mechanical development of the envelope industry than any other two men in the world. They invented and built five differ- ent types of envelope-folding machines, every one of which was a mechanical and commer- cial success. Other inventors were overcoming their difficulties also and I have simply used these examples from the experiences of the Swift Brothers because during the years we were associated in business I learned from them the definite knowledge of their troubles and use them to illustrate the burdens which some of these early inventors carried in working out problems of which the present men in the envelope business have never even had a knowledge, as these problems had ceased to be problems long before they came on to the scene, and so I end this chap- ter by saying: We are debtors to these men of the past and should hold their memory in honorable and appreciative remembrance. 23 And yet, and yet, in this busy and forgetful world, how soon men are forgotten and the world rushes on unconscious of its debt! I have sought diligently to find someone who could give me some information about Thomas V. Waymouth, who was the pio- neer in solving so many of the envelope manufacturer's problems, and while his work was done only fifty years ago, so far I have been unable to find any trace of him and he is known to the present generation only through the Patent Office as a name. Who he was, or where he came from, when or where born, how, when or where he died, is today unknown. In closing this brief sketch of his work may I express the hope that someone reading the Red Envelope may be able to furnish the missing detail of his fruitful life so that our story may be made more complete and that he may be- come to the present and future generations of envelope men something more than simply a name. JAMES LOGAN, General, Manager. 24, The Hall-mark of Quality February, 1917 Number 9 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry in Worcester, Mass. G. HENRY WHITCOMB & CO. by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. WHITCOMB ENVELOPE COMPANY, WORCESTER MASS. Bay State Envelope Company, G. Henry Whitcomb & Co., Whitcomb Envelope Co., Whitcomb Envelope Co. Div. of the United States Envelope Co., 1864-1866 1866-1884 1884-1898 1898 CHAPTER V. JAMES GREENE ARNOLD, 1866, AGED 42 In 1851, James Greene Ar- nold, a pattern maker and draughtsman who afterward be- came a patent solicitor, came to the city of Worcester, and soon after coming he became interested in the invention and development of a machine for making envelopes. Mr. Arnold was born in Pawtucket, R. I., September 22, 1824, and died in Worcester, August 27, 1892. The first Arnold rotary en- velope machine was invented probably between 1853-1856, and was finally completed about the year 1858, and only one machine was ever built. It was of the rotary type bag- arnold side-seam pattern style, i. e., folded up envelope fae sides, the envelope being cut from the roll or web of paper. In Mr. Arnold's envelope machine the gum on the sealing flap which heretofore had been ap- plied by hand with a brush was now applied to the flap of the envelope by a brush in the machine after the envelope had been folded; the envelopes were then deposited in the dry- ing chain or endless belt with wooden blocks attached, between which the envelopes were held while the gum on the flap was drying. The exact date of the invention and con- struction of this machine cannot now be definitely determined, for no applications were ever made for patents on this pioneer enve- lope machine. This was, without doubt, the first Rotary Self-Gumming envelope machine ever made. While this machine made envelopes after a fashion, it was never a mechanical success, though it cannot be classed among the abso- lute failures, for it had in it original mechan- ical principles like, for example, the chain dryer in which the envelopes were held apart while the gum on the sealing flap was drying. While Mr. Arnold was a patent solicitor, yet, as so often happens, he was so near to this child of his brain that he did not recognize the value of the several patentable features in his original inventions which were embodied in his machine. Instead of patenting the machine for making the envelope, he patented the envelope, the patent No. 22405 being issued December 28, 1858. The patent on the envelope was practically worthless, but had he patented the drying chain, pull-off, and other patentable mechanical features in his machines, his patents would have been of real value, for it was years after before the first successful self-gumming machine was invented and patented and it would have been practically impossible to have con- structed such a machine without infringing the claims which could have been made on the Arnold drying chain, pull-off, etc., had the patent claims been properly prepared. This machine had on it a perforating device which imprinted the date of the patent on each envelope. Like most inventors, Mr. Arnold was a poor man and had not the means to develop his invention. Living directly across the street was a gentleman of means by the name of David Whitcomb and to him Mr. Arnold applied for financial aid for the development of his envelope-making machine. David Whitcomb, then a man in middle life, was born in Hancock, N. H., May 20, 1808, and had moved to Worcester in 1854 from Templeton, Mass., where, as a partner of his cousin, John Boynton, founder of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Wor- cester, Mass., he had acquired in the tinware business what was then considered an ample fortune. He had come in on the hard side of life, being left an orphan, at the age of six years, and being thus early deprived of those to whom he could look for help, he early learned to depend on himself. At an early age he had been put out to work with a farmer, his work being to do the chores on the farm, drive the cattle to and from the pasture, and keep the fire going under the still, for we need to remember in those days many of the farmers in New Eng- land made whiskey and New England rum. For some time after he became of age he worked as a farmhand in the town of Gill, Mass., on the farm on which the Moody Mount Hermon School at Northfield, Mass., is now located. His health breaking down, he visited his cousin, John Boynton, with the hope that he might find employment with him in his tinware shop at Templeton, Mass., but in this he was disappointed and returned to the farm. Soon after he found employ- ment in Porter's Hotel at Ware, Mass., receiving for his services his board and lodg- ing and $7.00 per month. In January, 1830, John Boynton, desiring to locate David Whitcomb and not knowing where he was working, gave instructions to his tin peddlers to try to find him, and in due course one of the peddlers reported where he was working. This was before the day of the railroad, the first railroad in Massachusetts not yet having been built, the Boston & Worcester R. R., now the Boston & Albany R. R., being chartered June 23, 1831, and formally opened for business between Boston and Worcester on July 4, 1835. We need to remember that the mail service was not then what it is now, that the telegraph and tele- phone had not yet been invented. There were few newspapers, and such as there were had a very limited circulation, the means for gathering news to fill a paper not yet having been evolved. The tin peddler acted as the medium for the exchange of news between the country and the outside world as well as for the exchange of products. He was somewhat like an army of invasion; he lived on the country, his lodging place at night being where night overtook him, and, for his keep and that of his horse, he left the good house- wife something in the shape of a tin pan, broom, pail, or what not. He did a compara- tively small business and his cost of doing business was small. There was practically no money in circu- lation and trade was carried on by barter and exchange. The peddler would be gone for weeks, returning home loaded down with all manner of merchandise, such as hides and horns of cattle, muskrat, fox and skunk pelts, hog bristles for brushes, geese feathers, wool, hand- woven cloth, scrap iron, brass, copper, old rubbers, rags, etc., which had been taken in exchange for the product of the shop, but he handled very little money. It was all barter and exchange — the times were primitive. John Boynton was engaged in the manu- facture of tinware, brooms and brushes, at Templeton, Mass. In our thought of the present day tinware business means tin pails, pans, etc.; it also meant that then, but very much more than that. This was the day of the open fireplace; the cooking stove had not yet come into general use, and a large part of Mr. Boynton's business was the manufacture of tin bakers, an appliance to be set up before the fireplace, open toward the fire. In it was a spit or spindle which could be turned and upon this the roast was fastened. Under this spit was a dripping pan to collect the juices from the roasting meat, and these tin bakers Mr. Boynton manufactured by the thousand. Mr. Boynton made Mr. Whitcomb a proposition to come to Templeton to work for him for one year until January 31, 1831, and for his services he was to receive his board and lodging and $100.00 in cash and a fancy waistcoat pattern. The following year his pay was advanced to $15.00 per month and during that year, in 1832, he be- came Mr. Boynton's partner in business. In conversation with the writer, Mr. David Whitcomb often referred to the time when he, as a young man, first came into the city of Worcester, Mass., riding on a tin peddler's wagon, with bright tin pans decorating its sides and with its topknot of brooms sur- mounting the bags of rags at the rear — now a thing of the vanishing past but which was formerly met on every highway in New England. The experiences through which Mr. Whit- comb had passed in early life had given free rein to the natural-born trader and the trading instinct in him had been developed to a remarkable degree. The name ' 'Yankee peddler" was a syno- nym for everything that was shrewd, sharp, and sometimes unscrupulous in business practice, and these were the men with whom Mr. Whitcomb for years measured wits. At one time Boynton and Whitcomb had over one hundred of these men on the road and the man who could manage and hold his own against such an aggregation must have possessed ability of a high order. He had retired from business when he moved to Worcester in 1854, but being a man who had led a very active business life, he could not remain idle and so, in 1855, he be- came a special partner in the hardware firm of Calvin Foster & Co., on the corner of Main and Pearl streets, Worcester, Mass., and con- tinued as a member of this firm until 1866. G. Henry Whitcomb, his son, was born in Templeton, Mass., September 26, 1842, and was graduated from Amherst Col- lege in 1864. It was his inten- tion to enter commercial life and after graduation he be- came a clerk in the hardware store of Calvin Foster & Co., where his father was a special partner, but as he did not take kindly to the hardware busi- ness, he soon made a trip west, with the G. HENRY WHITCOMB 1866, Aged 22 thought in mind of locating in the west, but returned to Worcester, Mass., late in the fall and took up the consideration of several bus- iness openings which were brought to his at- tention. Among them the envelope business, his father having already advanced Mr. Arnold quite a sum of money to enable him to develop his envelope-making machine which was not then (nor was it ever to be) a mechanical success. But the investment had been made, and two questions were to be considered — the saving of the investment and the devel- opment of a business. The first Arnold envelope machine cutting the bag-style envelope from the roll of paper having been abandoned as a failure, Mr. Arnold had turned his attention to the inven- tion and construction of another rotary envelope machine for making an envelope cut with a die of the style now in general use. The second Arnold envelope machine, while conceived probably about the year 1860, and worked on for years, was finally built in 1863-4 in a building on School street which stood where the fire engine house now stands. This second machine was also a pioneer invention but no applications for patents covering the inventions embodied in either the first or second Arnold machines were ever made, and while the machine was not practical, great originality was shown on the part of the inventor. 30 The more we know of those early condi- tions, the more cause for wonder that Mr. Arnold, being himself a patent solicitor, did not patent his own mechanical inventions. Some years ago, I obtained from Mr. D. Wheeler Swift a brief description of this second Arnold Rotary envelope machine for making an envelope cut with a die, the style of the envelope in general use at the present time, which description will, no doubt, be of interest to those now connected with the industry, and if not recorded now, the description of these first machines will be lost forever, for no drawings of them are in existence at the Patent Office or elsewhere, and soon all who had any knowledge of them will have passed away. Description by D. Wheeler Swift of the Second Arnold Rotary Envelope- Folding Machine, Invented Between 1860-1863. This machine had a horizontal cylinder or feed wheel about 18" in diameter attached to the rear end of the frame of the machine. This feed wheel was divided into twelve pockets and in each pocket was a bellows. As this feed wheel revolved the operator would drop about 100 envelope blanks into each pocket, to charge the wheel. As the wheel revolved the blanks were kept in place and prevented from dropping out on the under side by an automatic mechanism. As the feed wheel revolved it caused the bellows to contract and expand, and this produced a suction through the holes on that side of the bellows where the envelope blanks rested, and in passing by the center of gravity on the top of the feed wheel, the blanks would fall away, leaving one blank held in place by suction. Then this one blank would be snatched away by a system of feed rolls and tapes, and carried to a cylinder that creased the blanks where the folds were to be made. On this cylinder were four small nipper knives so placed that they would cut off any excess of paper that might pro- ject beyond the creased corner of the folded envelope as there would be more or less varia- tion where the tape system was used as a conveyance. The blank was then taken by an 18" cylinder having six pairs of grippers and drawn through a pair of hemmers which folded the end flaps of the blanks. After leaving the hemmers it was taken to a position directly over a vertical moving steel gate, to which was attached the die for gumming the back flap. There was another die for gumming the seal flap so arranged as to work or not to work according to whether the sealing flap of the envelopes were to be gummed or ungummed. Enve- lopes up to this time were very largely ungummed, being sealed with wafers or sealing wax. The steel gate in its upward movement struck the blank in the crease of the back flap and took it up into the chain dryer which was located directly over the gate, and this movement caused the back flap to be 12 folded down and the envelope was left in the dryer with the seal flap projecting from the dryer to permit the gum to dry. The cut shown on this page shows the construc- tion of the drying chain, which is believed to be the first drying chain ever used in an envelope ma- ARN °cha E ?S V1NG ■ 5 3 chine. This drying chain 1853-6 ^((f.. was made of small blocks of wood the size of the envelope and about one-half inch thick on which was pasted strips of rough woolen cloth so as to give friction by which the envelopes were held between the blocks. A section of this chain from the original machine hangs at the present time in the General Manager's Office and will be given a place of honor in the museum which it is our purpose to establish at the Logan, Swift & Brigham Div. of the United States Envelope Co., Worcester, Mass. This chain dryer, as it passed round, took the envelopes to the counting mechanism where they passed between a set of rolls which folded down the seal flap and delivered the envelopes into a pocket in another end- less chain, each compartment or pocket holding twenty-five envelopes, from which pocket the operator took them and banded them. Mr. David Whitcomb, while having advanced a considerable sum of money for the development of the Arnold machines, 13 still had doubts as to whether the making of envelopes would ever develop into much of a business. He also had doubts as to the practical value of the envelope-making machine invented by his neighbor, Arnold, so he laid the whole matter before his old- time friend and former customer, Mr. J. C. Parsons, one of the founders of the Parsons Paper Co., of Holyoke, Mass., to whom he had in former years, when a member of the firm of Boynton & Whitcomb, Tem- pleton, .Mass., sold rags to be used in the manufacture of paper. Mr. Parsons was for his day a very pro- gressive man who believed in the future, though some of his friends looked upon him as visionary when, in 1854, he built at Holyoke, Mass., a paper mill (The Parsons Paper Co.), which was to manufacture one and one-half tons of writing paper per day, which his friends and business acquaintances predicted they would never be able to sell. This first Holyoke paper-making machine, installed by the Parsons Paper Co., was a 62" Four- drinier and was built and installed by Goddard Rice & Co. of Worcester, Mass., which firm later was succeeded by Rice, Barton & Fales Co., of Worcester, Mass. It is an interesting fact that the first paper made by the Parsons Paper Co. in Holyoke, Mass., was made from rags which were bought from Boynton & Whitcomb and were sent by four-horse teams from Templeton to Holyoke, Mass. This state- ment was made to the writer either by Mr. Whitcomb or Mr. Parsons, I cannot now 14 recall which, but it was by either one or the other. Mr. Parsons assured Mr. Whitcomb of his belief that some day there would be a demand for envelopes, and, looking back, we can now see the shrewd Yankee in Mr. Parsons, who, by his optimism in connec- tion with envelope making, was creating a demand for the paper which he was to manu- facture and which he hoped to sell, and so Mr. G. Henry Whitcomb became interested in the envelope industry and in the further development of the Arnold envelope-making machine, and late in the fall of 1864 the Bay State Envelope Co., G. Henry Whitcomb, Proprietor, began the manufacture of envel- opes on the Second Arnold machine in a building on School street. With the heroic faith of the inventor, Mr. Arnold believed in his machine and in his ability to make it finally a mechanical success. The machine which he had built required his constant care to keep it running (a trick some envelope machines have even today), and he desired to be freed from this constant care in order that he might devote all his time to the improvement of his machine and the construction of other machines. Recognizing the mechanical skill of Henry D. Swift, whom he had met through his church connection (both Mr. Arnold and Mr. Swift being members of the Society of Friends), Mr. Arnold, in the fall of 1864, made overtures to him to enter the employ of the Bay State Envelope Co. Mr. Swift was working at his trade as a cabinet maker 15 w. on Union street, Worcester, Mass., and did not feel that he could leave a certainty for an uncertainty, taking up a new and experi- mental line of work in a business which did not seem to give much promise for the future, but he suggested that his younger brother, D. Wheeler Swift, who at that time was unmarried, and was out of work, might be willing to come from South Dedham, Mass., and make the venture. The imposition was made to D. heeler Swift, and about Thanksgiving, November, 1864, he came to Worcester and be- gan work running the Arnold machine in the shop on School street, where the machine had been built. He had been led to suppose when he came to Worcester that the machine wheeler swift, was a practical success, but such 1867, aged 27 was not the case. Mr. Arnold then left him with the girl operator to wrestle with the machine while he devoted his time to its further develop- ment. It is an interesting fact that this machine was operated by the girl (Miss Mary Spiers) who afterward became the wife of Mr. Iver Johnson, founder of the Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works, now located at Fitchburg, Mass. Early in 1865, the factory was moved from School street to Main street, near Walnut street. 16 Almost this entire year was spent in try- ing to make this second Arnold machine do the impossible. The machine would not make marketable goods. Other inventors had made progress with envelope-making machinery and envelope machines were for sale in the open market, among them a machine invented by Geo. H. Reay of New York (to which reference has been made in the record of the development of the envelope business in New York City). In the Main street factory while they tried hard to reach a product of 100 M. per day, they never quite succeeded in accomplishing it. We have in our possession the daily record of production where day after day, for weeks, they struggled to get over the 100 M. mark, and while many times they got over 90 M. they could never quite reach the 100 M. goal. The Bay State En- velope Co. now made plans for the enlarge- ment of the business by the erection of a factory building on Bigelow Court, now Mercantile street, Wor- cester, Mass., which they moved into in January, 1866. _ The new factory building was 37 x 60, three sto- ries, with attic and basement, making an area of about 11,000 square feet of floor space, power being fur- 17 48?" " -v w*\ / (M3 % P*uP*f % m § ilp^ W"\i y '"-=-- THE CALORIC ENGINE. 2 H. P. nished by a 2 H. P. Caloric Engine, of the type shown on page 17. The name of the company was now changed from the Bay State Envelope Co. to G. Henry Whit- comb & Co., Mr. David Whit- comb retiring from Calvin Foster & Co., and becoming actively interested in the envelope busi- ness. Early in 1866, several Reay envelope machines were pur- 1866, aged 58 ' chased and Mr. F. C. Graves, who later in life was for forty years connected with the Plimpton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn., was sent to Worcester to install the machinery and eventually more than twenty Reay machines were in operation. In addition several envelope machines in- vented by Duff & Keating of New York were added to the equipment and Mr. Abram A. Rheutan, who afterwards was for many years superintendent of the W. H. Hill Env. Co. Division, was sent to Worcester to super- intend the installation. Before the factory was moved from Main street to the new building, the second Arnold machine was finally abandoned, and, as the room it occupied was needed for other ma- chines, it was taken from the Main street factory to be put in storage where space was less valuable. This was before the day of elevators, and as the machine was being hoisted by block 18 and tackle into the storage building, the tackle broke and the Arnold machine fell to the ground and was carried to the junk heap in baskets, and thus ended about ten years of experimental work on two pioneer envelope machines which, while not mechan- ical successes, were not complete failures, for there were embodied in them mechanical principles which make possible most of the self -gumming envelope machines in the world today, the most important contribution being the chain dryer. Appreciating the crudeness of the envelope machinery he was operating and seeing future pos- sibilities of the business from the mechanical side and recog- nizing the inventive ability of his brother, D. Wheeler Swift, persuaded the Whitcombs to re- new the offer made through Mr. Arnold to his brother Henry D . Swift a year and a half before i860, aged 30 to become associated with him; and as the envelope business was no longer an experiment but gave promise of per- manence, Henry D. Swift accepted the offer and soon after moving to the new factory on Bigelow Court early in 1866, he became an assistant to his brother D. Wheeler _ Swift, and they were never again separated in their life-work ; and it is probably safe to say that no two men in the world have rendered a larger service to the envelope industry — and what of these two men ? H. D. & D. W. SWIFT, About 1866 Henry D. Swift was born May 21, 1833, and Daniel Wheeler Swift was born June 12, 1840. They were the sons of Hepzibah and Daniel Swift who with his brother Seth were blacksmiths and millwrights and were en- gaged in the building of sailing vessels at West Falmouth, Mass., and it was here the two brothers who were to play such an im- portant part in the mechanical development of the envelope industry were born. 20 Their father and uncle were ingenious men, possessing the mechanical instinct in a won- derful degree. They were men of sterling integrity and when in 1846, by the loss of a sailing vessel (the William Penn) in the Pacific Ocean, the firm failed, their modest competence was swept away and they were left in very straightened circumstances. The changing conditions of the United States mer- chant marine from sailing vessels to steam- ships, more than the loss of this single vessel, was the real cause of their failure, but the loss of this vessel was the climax of their troubles. At this time Henry D. was thirteen and D. Wheeler was six years of age and the changed conditions of the family made it necessary that the boys should early in life begin to care for themselves. They had both inherited the mechanical instinct and both at an early age developed a fondness for tools, so Henry D. was sent to North Fair- haven, Mass., to learn the trade of cabinet- making. D. Wheeler remained on the farm, using his spare time tinkering with such primitive tools as were available, and before he was sixteen years of age, had constructed a wood-turning lathe and with this lathe had made the kit of tools which he took with him when he went a few years later to learn his trade in a furniture factory at South Ded- ham (now Norwood, Mass.). 21 In 1852, J. P. Martin of Philadelphia, Pa., invented a Clothes Wringer for which patent No. 9302 was issued Oct. 5, 1852, his method being to make his machines repeat the wring- ing operation of the washerwoman, as shown in the cut. I i From drawing filed with application of J. P. Martin. Patent issued No. 9302, Oct. 5, 1852. While other wringers were probably in- vented, this was, I believe, the first and only wringer patented until the year 1862, when the Swift Brothers invented a clothes wringer, the patent being No. 34276, issued to D. Wheeler Swift, Jan. 28, 1862, for an "Improved Clothes Wringing Machine," which was called the "Eureka Improved Clothes Squeezer," and after over fifty years it is still being manufactured. 22 From drawing filed with application of D. Wheeler Swift Patent issued No. 34276, Jan. 28, 1862. The Swifts then moved to South Dedham (now Norwood, Mass.) and hired space in the factory of Geo. H. Morrill & Co., manu- facturers of printing inks, and began the man- ufacture of their improved wringer. Photograph of Model, Swift's Eureka Clothes Squeezer Patent No. 34276, issued Jan. 28, 1862. The Eureka Clothes Wringer now being sold in the market, 1916. 23 They had a good patent but the vulcanized rubber used for the rolls was controlled by a monopoly (though this was long before the day of trusts). Their wringer was without value unless they could procure the vulcanized rubber rolls, and as they could not procure the rubber rolls at a price at which they could market their wringer they were finally forced out of the business. They had marketed their wringers through a commission mer- chant in Boston, the son of a personal friend, and through this same commission merchant they now opened up negotiations for the sale of their patent at the best price they could obtain. The patent was finally sold for $3,000.00 to a man by the name of M. J. Cluff, who, after the close of the war went south as a carpet bagger, and who, during the reconstruction period was engaged in raising cotton, and who, being afflicted with a sharp Yankee tongue and out of touch with the people, got into trouble with some of his southern neighbors and was finally shot. The advertisement calling the attention of the public to this labor-saving device is not without interest. DESCRIPTION OF EUREKA IMPROVED CLOTHES SQUEEZER "The severest labor of washing day is the wringing of the moisture out of the clothes so they may become clean and dry speedily. Some benefactor of his race (to whom the female portion ought to erect a monument) discovered that the water might be driven out by pressure, and consequently there have been many machines for the purpose alluded 24 to, made upon this principle. We illustrate this week another one, which has some very excellent features. The two rollers, G & F, are covered with vulcanized rubber, and have short axles upon either end, which run in bearings formed for them in the springs, E; they are operated by a crank projecting at one side. These springs are shaped like the letter U, placed horizontally, and made very strong and stiff, sufficiently so to exert a powerful pressure on any substance intro- duced between them. The wooden portion, C, is attached to the legs, J ; these are fastened to the washtub by thumb screws, D; by means of the latter, the squeezer can be quickly and easily secured in its place and is then ready for use without further adjust- ment. All articles, whether thick or thin, can be squeezed between the rollers without injury, it is stated, to the most delicate fabric. The rollers give as the garments run through them and the springs admit of much elasticity of movement. We have one of these machines in our family and it is very much liked by those who use it. This in- vention was patented January 28, 1862. Further information respecting it may be obtained by addressing the assignee, M. J. Cluff, 288 Washington St., Boston." The commission merchant who negotiated the sale of the patent charged the Swifts the royal commission of 33^% for his services, and after the sale had been effected they were unable to collect the balance due them from their agent, and after weary months of wait- ing, having received nothing for their patent 25 but broken promises of a settlement, they were informed by their agent that he had become involved in financial difficulties and that the money had been lost and that he would be unable to pay them anything, and this was the only promise he ever made them which he kept. In starting their venture they had been obliged to borrow most of the money for their equipment and working capital, and this had been all swept away in the wreck. So they turned their backs on about five years of hard labor with financial failure as the goal which they had finally reached, and faced the future with a legacy of debt, going back to the bench at day wages out of which they paid up their indebtedness, one hundred cents on the dollar with 10% in- terest until the last dollar was paid. But they paid in full. Illustrating the way in which the Arnold Cutting Press was operated. Mr. Arnold also invented and built an envelope-cutting press which was operated 26 by hand. The paper with the die properly located on the sheet was placed under the platten of the press, then the cutter going to the side of the press grasped the long hand bar or lever and pulling down the bar in the same manner that an ordinary hand draw knife used to be operated in small printing offices, the envelope die was forced down through the paper, and this style of cutting press was in use until after the product of G. Henry Whitcomb Co. was over 100 M. per day. (See illustration.) The installation of Reay machines was a hard blow to Mr. Arnold who thus found himself distanced in the race and, though this ended his work of invention in envelope machinery, he never lost his interest in the development of the industry. ' Up to this time D. Wheeler Swift, with the aid of his brother and one other man, had practically done about everything, he being superintendent, foreman, adjuster, cutter, gum mixer, engineer, fireman, packer, ship- per, janitor, and handy man generally, his wages being $15.00 per week for practically all his waking hours, his first duty being to open the factory and light the fires in the morning, and his last duty to lock up the factory at night. Years ago, and until within a few years, the people of Falmouth, Sandwich, and other Massachusetts Cape towns, used to string and tie shipping tags in their homes for the Dennison Mfg. Co. The inventive mind of Henry D. Swift, in 1863, taught him that this work could be 27 done by machinery, and forthwith his fertile brain wrought out a machine of which he made a working model which would thread the tag and tie the knot. He was then twenty-three years of age and delighted with his invention; and seeing the possibilities of his machine, which gave promise of large returns which he needed to pay up the debts incurred in the wringer enterprise, he showed the model to his wife, who saw at once that this machine would take the place of hand stringing and tying which was being done in the homes of all their friends and neighbors; and, with the feeling that this would deprive them of their liveli- hood, she was greatly depressed, and for weeks suffered, saying, if he completed that machine she would never use a penny of the money that came from it. She finally pre- vailed upon her husband not to develop it, and he never did, though he told me years afterward that it did its work almost per- fectly. Once, in talking with the late H. K. Dyer, President of the Dennison Mfg. Co., I told him about this invention and he asked me to ask Mr. Swift if he would develop it then; but when I put the question to Mr. Swift, he said, "No, James, not now. That was a dream of long ago. I once said I would never do it, and the chapter is closed." Mrs. Swift never felt that way about any other invention of her husband's, but in this case, she was so near to the problem which would confront all her friends and neighbors that no personal gain of her own could offset 28 their sorrow and loss and so the world waited for years for other men to do what Mr. Swift had done in 1863. In the July, 1916, number of the Red En- velope, I wrote an appreciation of Mr. Henry D. Swift, in which I said he was the nearest approach to a saint that I ever expected to meet on this side of the Great Divide. This feeling was shared by others and I once heard one of our workmen in his crude way pay him this compliment : Two of the workmen had had some trouble and both were so angry that reason had de- parted and the air was fairly sizzling with electricity. Mr. Swift acted as the peace- maker, and after he had ironed out the trouble and both men had gone back to their work, one of the men said to his benchmate : "When that man Swift dies the Devil will never know he is dead till after he has been in Paradise for weeks." While the Swifts were paying up their in- debtedness, Henry D. Swift came to Worces- ter, Mass., in the spring of 1864, and found employment as a woodturner in the cabinet shop of John M. Goodell on Cypress street, at $9.00 per week, which was afterwards in- creased to $12.00 per week. D. Wheeler Swift following in the fall of the same year to begin work for the Whitcombs as an as- sistant to Mr. Arnold in the envelope business at $15.00 per week. The Swift brothers working together early began to make improvements on the envelope machines they were operating, none of which 29 improvements were patented, but which were applied to the machines they were then running. One of their first inventions was an auto- matic band embosser and cutter which they Bed of Swift's Round Table Envelope Machine, from drawings filed with the application for patent by H. D. & D. W. Swift. Patent No. 115,382, issued May 30, 1871. operated for years. They also invented a machine for embossing valentine envelopes which they were then manufacturing for manufacturers of valentines, an industry which had its birth in this country in Worces- ter, Massachusetts. The Swifts soon began work on an envelope machine of an entirely new type, which was finally developed into what became known as the Swift Round Table Machine, for which they made application for a patent, the pat- 30 ent being issued, No. 115,382, May 30, 1871. The Swift Round Table envelope machine was simple in construction (as all the Swift inventions were) and was built at a cost of about $350.00, while the price of the Reay machines at that time was $800.00 with an additional charge of $150.00 for each change. In addition, the Swift Round Table machine had an increased capacity of about 30% over the Reay machine, making 35 M. per day of ten hours, the product of-the Reay machine being about 25 M. per day, while at the same time the Swift machine made much less waste and required much less supervision, the burden of the Swifts always being to make their machines what they used to call "fool proof." H. D. & D. W. Swift's Round Table Envelope Machine. Patent No. 115,382, issued May 30, 1871. One of the characteristics of all the Swift inventions was simplicity. They were natural inventors and went to their goal by the most direct route. Envelopes made on both the Reay and the Swift Round Table ma- chines were gummed by hand, the blanks being overlapped as they now are on hand -sealed work. The Swifts then in- vented, patented and built, a sealing machine which gummed the sealing flap, the patent No. 115,381 being issued May 30, 1871. Sealing Machine, from drawings filed with the application for patent by H. D. & D. W. Swift. Patent No. 115,381, issued May 30, 1871. This sealing machine had a capacity for sealing the flaps of about 35 M. envelopes per day of 10 hours, so that the two machines, one for sealing the flap and the other for folding the envelope, made a complete equip- ment. To show how rapidly the business was de- veloping, how one invention was following another in rapid succession, I might add that the Swift sealing machine was patented in 1871. I entered the employ of G. Henry Whitcomb Co. in April, 1878, and I never saw one of these sealing machines. They had been invented, patented, the factory completely equipped with them, and they had disappeared in the scrap heap, all inside of seven years. Model of H. D. & D. W. Swift Envelope Sealing Machine. Patent No. 115,381, issued May 30, 1871. The G. Henry Whit comb Co. now dis- posed of their Reay machines and equipped their factory throughout with the new Swift Sealing machines and Round Table Folding machines and immediately took their place in the very front rank in the envelope in- dustry. By this time the Bigelow Court factory, even though it had been increased in size, had become far too small for the rapidly expanding business and plans were matured in 1872 for the erection of a building at No. 20 Salisbury street, the building being completed in 1873. Additions were made in 1878, 1886 and 1892. It is still the home of 33 the Whitcomb Env. Co. Division of the United States Envelope Company. Urged on by the impelling spirit of the inventor, the Swifts were not satisfied with Swift Chain Dryer Envelope Machine, from drawings filed with application for Patent by H. D. & D. W. Swift. Patent No. 173,870, issued Feb'y 22, 1876. what they had been able to accomplish with the Round Table envelope machine and sealing machine. The goal which they de- sired to reach was a self-gumming envelope machine which would make the completed envelope on one machine, and in 1875, four years after they had developed the Round Table machine and sealer, they reached their goal. Applications for patents on this ma- chine, which was known as the "Swift Chain Dryer machine," were made, the patent No. 173,870 being issued February 22, 1876. 34 The Swift Chain Dryer envelope machine was not the first self-gumming and folding machine, as it will be remembered that Way- mouth had invented and patented on Sept. 25, 1866, a self-gumming and folding ma- chine. (Described in the October, 1916, number of the Red Envelope). The Way- mouth machine used for its drying chain H. D. & D. W. Swift's Chain Dryer Envelope Machine. Patent No. 173,870, issued Feb'y 22, 1876. an "endless apron" (probably of canvas or leather) with "radiating arms" for receiving the envelopes after they were folded. It will be remembered that Arnold in 1853-56 had provided a drying chain for use in connection with his experimental machine (Referred to in October, 1916, num- ber of the Red Envelope). The fingers of the Arnold drying chain were made of wood, although the wooden fingers were connected together by metal joints. One of the great H. D. & D. W. Swift's Chain Dryer Envelope Machine. Patent No. 173,870, issued Feb'y 22, 1876. defects of the Arnold dryer, or any drying device such as made by Waymouth, would come from the shrinkage or stretching of the canvas belt or apron. The Arnold Dryer could never be depended upon to bring the pocket or fingers in proper registration with the point in the machine where the envelopes were to be delivered to it, and in the self- gumming machine invented by the Swifts and patented on Feb. 22, 1876, an all-metal chain dryer was used. In this dryer each link or finger had pro- jections which held it away from the fingers next adjacent to it. These projections also 36 evenly spaced every link from those next to it. The Swift Chain Dryer could not be patented broadly, doubtless because of the previous Waymouth patent, but this all- metal chain dryer was, nevertheless, a dis- tinct advantage over the Arnold dryer and that shown in the Waymouth patent. On Feb. 25, 1879, the Swifts patented an- other machine which came largely as a de- velopment of the machine of 1876. The principal improvement, as described in patent of above date, was a new drum dryer; that is, the drying fingers instead of being attached to a flexible belt or apron linked together in an endless chain, as in the case of the 1876 machine, were fixed on the periphery of a rigid drum. This drum had about eighty fingers, while the old chain dryer had from 180 to 200. The drum, being of solid construction and made as a single unit, was capable of more accurate construction than the belt or all- metal chain dryer of former days. Before the advent of the drum dryer it was a very difficult matter to get castings sufficiently accurate to make a good chain dryer. A very slight inequality in each link would amount to a great deal when 180 to 200 were put together in a chain. In the construction of the drum dryer, the base of each finger was machined and was nicely fitted into a mill slot in the per- iphery of the drum. Because of this accurate construction, there was never any question about the registration of the pocket or finger coming in line with the envelope as it was delivered from the conveyor. In the case of the chain it was necessary to spread the links radially or open them up at the point of delivery so as to receive the envelope. In the drum dryer, because of the great accuracy of the construction, this was unnecessary. Drawings filed with the application for patent, Swift's Drum Dryer Envelope Machine. Patent No. 212,634, issued Feb'y 25, 1879. Furthermore the drum dryer, being cir- cular in shape, had a hollow iron casing around its circumference through which the air for drying the envelopes was blown directly across the seal flaps where it was wanted. This air was supplied by an indi- vidual fan on the machine. Because of its efficiency in drying, it was possible to use a dryer with only about 80 fingers in place of the old chain dryer which had 180 to 200, as stated before. The utility of the so-called basket or drum dryer machine is well ex- plained in claim 3 of the patent which covers it, that is, Feb. 25, 1879. "3. The combination of the revolving drum D, having fixed projecting fingers FF', &c, of the air chamber R, with holes ee', &c, to direct a blast across the envelopes from end to end, of the pawl P and ratchet wheel W, operated by the cam G and levers L I/, all forming a drying apparatus for envelope machines, substantially as shown and described. " It was now proposed to operate this new type of envelope -folding machine in pairs, but not a girl in the shop would try it, which only goes to prove that human nature does not change very much in its attitude toward improvements in machinery or new methods of production. Though there is not so much opposition to machinery as formerly, it still continues to be a difficult problem to change old hide-bound methods. Those who know so well that "it can't be done" are usually unwilling to try. The power loom, spinning frame and hun- dreds of other inventions, in fact about every new machine or changed method, meets with opposition, and a battle has to be fought before the larger service can be rendered — and running two of these new envelope ma- chines was no exception to the general rule — "it could not be done," etc.; and, worse yet, no one was willing to make the attempt. Mr. D. Wheeler Swift had both tact and that God - given Quaker quality, patience, so he was willing to wait his time. In talking with different girls, he assumed in his con- versation with them that probably not a single girl in the shop would be smart enough to run the double machines; and, after a good Drum Dryer Envelope Machine, H. D. & D. W. Swift. Patent No. 212,634, issued July 25, 1879. deal of badgering with the girl who sits at the machine in the cut on page 36, she said she knew she could do it. This he questioned with a good deal of vigor, but, being a good Quaker, he could not bet with her, but he told her if she was smart enough to do it, he would give her a ten-dollar bill the day she ran the two machines a full day, and so she did the thing that "couldn't be done" and got the ten dollars, and she continued to run them and other girls did the same, and the double machines came into their own. The capacity of the Drum Dryer ma- chine was 35 M. completed envelopes per day — they were run in pairs set at a right angle, so that the operator sat between the two machines. The product of the operative JAMES LOGAN "THE G. M." 1878, Aged 26 running two machines was thus increased to approximately 70 M. envelopes per day of 10 hours which once more put G. Henry Whit comb & Co. ahead of all competitors. The business continued to grow and on June 1, 1878, James Logan was added to the office staff as an assistant to Mr. Whitcomb and he eventually became the correspondent, trav- eling salesman, and practically manager, though he never had that official title, continuing in that capacity until December, 1882, when he severed his con- nection with the Company to form with Geo. H. Lowe, who had for many years been connected with Carter, Rice & Co., of Boston, Mass., the Logan & Lowe Envelope Co., and in January, 1883, they began the manufacture of envel- opes in a small way with seven machines in the Stevens Block on South- bridge street. In April, 1883, a proposition was made to Mr. Logan to re- turn to G. Henry Whitcomb & Co. to enter the firm, and at the same time Carter, Rice & Co., of Boston, made overtures to Mr. Lowe to return to his former employers to enter the firm, and in August, 1883, the arrangements were completed geo. h. lowe and the firm of Logan & about 27 years of Lowe Envelope Co. was dissolved. G. Henry Whitcomb & Co. had up to this JOHN S. BRIGHAM About 1870 time been a co-partnership. It was now , proposed to organize a corporation with « $150,000.00 capital to be known as the Whit- comb Envelope Co. Differences arose in i r connection with the organization of the cor- \._; poration and, as a result, in January, 1884, James Logan, Henry D. Swift, D. Wheeler Swift and John S. Brigham sev- ered their connection with the Whitcomb Envelope Company, and on February 28th, 1884, the Logan, Swift & Brigham Env. Co. was organized and com- menced the manufacture of envelopes at 16 Union street, Worcester, Mass., using the machinery which had formed the plant of the Logan & Lowe Envelope Co. John S. Brigham was born in Worcester, Mass., May 12, 1847, completing his high- school course at the age of 18. His first position was a bookkeeper for J. H. Clark & Co., dealers in dry goods, which position he held for about a year. He was then employed by D. H. Eames & Co., clothing deal- ers, and from there he went to G. Henry Whitcomb & Co. in 1867. For years, while working for the Whitcomb Co., he kept the books of the Worcester Horse Railroad Company even- ings. He remained with the Whitcomb Co. 17 years, leaving in 1884 to become the Treas- urer of the Logan, Swift & Brigham Env. Co. JOHN S. BRIGHAM [About 1885 He was a rare man, kindly and thoughtful for others, of splendid ability and of strictest integrity. He served the City of Worcester as Councilman for two terms and had he been willing to serve could have had still higher honors. In March, 1884, Mr. John A. Sherman became the superin- tendent of the Whitcomb En- velope Co. and remained with the Companyuntil Nov. 3, 1898, when he resigned to organize the Sherman Envelope Com- pany, Worcester, Mass. Mr. Sherman was born in Brimfield, Mass., June 6, 1852, and before coming to the Whit- comb Envelope Co. he had been connected with the Ames Plow Co., Worces- ter, Mass., and the Norton Door Check and Spring Co., Boston, Mass. On July 8, 1887, David Whitcomb, Presi- dent of the Whitcomb Envelope Co., died at the ripe age of 79 years. With his death the industry lost one of the men who has left an enduring mark on the envelope business and also on the city of Worcester which is the largest envelope-making center in the United States. It was largely through his influence that his cousin and partner in early life, John Boynton, of Templet on, Mass., founded the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Worcester, Mass., of which Mr. Whitcomb was a trustee from the incorporation of the Institute in 1865 to 1884, when on account of his health JOHN A. SHERMAN Born 1852 43 he resigned, and his son, G. Henry Whitcomb, became a member of the Board. Mr. Whitcomb served as Treasurer Institute from 1865 to 1876. He was elected Treasurer in 1881, but on account of his health de- clined to serve and purchased his release from the duties of the office by presenting the Institute with $20,000.00, thus creating the David Whitcomb fund. He made other gifts to the Insti- tute at different times, aggre- gating approximately $7,000.00. of the again DAVID WHITCOMf 1808—1887 When the United States En- velope Co. was organized on August 18, 1898, Mr. G. Henry Whitcomb retired from the ac- tive management of the Whit- comb Envelope Co. and became a Director and Vice-President of the new company, which he continued to serve until his death on February 13, 1916, at the age of seventy-three years. Henry E. Whitcomb, son of henry whitcomb G. Henry Whitcomb, was born 1842-1916 in Worcester, Massachusetts, August 18, 1871. He was graduated from Amherst College, with the class of 1894, and in the fall of the same year entered the employ of the Whitcomb Envelope Company and became Secretary and As- sistant Treasurer of the company. After 44 the organization of the United States En- velope Company, in 1898, he continued as manager of the Whitcomb Env. Co. Di- vision until Sept. 1, 1909, when he resigned to become the Treas- urer of the R. L. Morgan Co., Worcester, Mass. August 18, 1898, ten of the leading envelope companies of the United States, which in- cluded the Whitcomb Envelope Co., were consolidated into the United States Envelope Co., in- corporated under the laws of Maine. HENRY E. WHITCOMI 1898, Aged 27 As the mission of the Red Envelope is to preserve the history of the beginnings of the envelope industry, the organization of the United States Envelope Company may ap- propriately be regarded as the end of an era and the story of the early history of the Whit- comb Envelope Company as a separate cor- poration properly ends when it, with other corporations, was merged in the United States Envelope Company, on August 18, 1898. JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. The Hall-mark of Quality Wc\t Slrii SttteUip? August, 1920 Number 1 1 The Road to France At last, thank God; at last we see There is no tribal Liberty. No beacon lighting just our shores. No freedom guarding but our doors. The flame she kindled for our sires Burns now in Europe's battle fires. The soul that led our fathers west Turns back to free the world's oppressed. — D. M. Henderson. PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. America beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America ! America ! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every grain divine! beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! Ame rica ! America ! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! — Kaiherine Lee Bales. A Word of Explanation by the "G. M." This issue is No. 1 1 of the Red Envelope. No . 1 was issued in April, 1917. In the first number of the Red Envelope the "G. M." said it would have no fixed date of issue. It would be issued when the spirit moved but not when it did not move. That its primary purpose was the preservation of the early history of the envelope industry, which meant searching the musty past for details, but the present has had so many insistent problems that thoughts on the past have had to be made secondary and set aside for the time being while we dealt with the vital problems of the living present. The work of furnishing supplies for the Red Cross and French wounded; Liberty Loan cam- paigns; Red Cross membership campaigns; the campaign of the Red Cross for one hundred millions of dollars; the National War Work Council cam- paign for funds for Y. M. C. A. work which pro- duced over fifty millions of dollars (of which the "G. M." was the New England Manager); the United War Work Campaign of the seven organ- izations working for our soldiers and sailors, which produced contributions of almost two hundred millions of dollars, of which again the "G. M." was the New England manager, with all the other subsidiary world causes which have called for time and thought and have been so absorbing for the needs of the nation and her soldier and sailor defenders, that things that could wait have had to wait, and hence the Red Envelope has not been issued for three years. We now take up the story where it was broken off in 1917. In this War Number of the Red Envelope we give the record, and, so far as possible, we show the face and form of our boys who responded to the call to the Colors, each doing the part assigned to him, whether serving at the home bases, manning the bridge of boats that spanned the sea, which made possible landing our boys in France, mine sweeping in the North Sea, or forming a part of that human wall fringed with fire and smoke and tipped with steel which stretched from the English Channel to the Alps, and which finally drove the Hun to the most ignominious surrender that any army ever made. Every one in any way connected with the Com- pany may take a justifiable pride in the record. Enough copies of this War Number will be printed so that the members of our "Industrial Family" may have as many as they wish. It is our purpose to have a bronze tablet at each Division, giving the names of the young men from that Division who placed their all, even life itself, upon their country's altar in the day of the world's need. The Change in Our Boy 'Twas hard to think that he must go, We knew that we should miss him so; We thought that he must always stay Beside us, laughing, day by day, That he must never know the care And hurt and grief of life cut there, Then came the call fcr youth, and he Talked with his mother and with me, And suddenly we learned the boy Was hungering to know the joy Of dcing something real with life And that he craved the test of strife. And so we steeled ourselves to dread To see at night his empty bed, And feel the silence and the gloom That hovers o'er his vacant room; And, though we wept the day he went, And many a lonely hour we've spent, We've come to think as he, somehow, And we are more contented now; We're proud that we can stand and say We have a boy who's gone away, And we are glad to know that he Is serving where he ought to be. It's queer, the change that time has brought — We're different now in speech and thought; His letters home mean joy to us, His difficulties we discuss, When word of his promotion came, His mother, with her eyes aflame, With happiness and pride rushed out To tell the neighbors round about, Her boy! Her boy is doing well, What greater news can mothers tell? I think that pity now we show For them that have no boys to go. — Anon. Just by Way of Comparison The Kaiser versus Wilson, Kitchener and Pershing "No man ever did so much to teach spiritual apostasy to his people as the Kaiser. Not only is a nation unmoral, but immoral and depraved when it slays Jesus' little ones. The contrast between Hell and Heaven is not more striking than that between the Kaiser on the one hand and Wil- son, Kitchener and Pershing on the other. Not content with delivering his charge to his soldiers, the Kaiser printed it on millions of postal cards, and nothing in the Kaiser's career has been published so widely as the Kaiser's inhuman charge to his soldiers, pledging them to deeds of devilishness." The German Kaiser to His Troops Embarking for China, July 27, 1900 When you face the enemy he will be beaten! No quarter will be given! No prisoners will be taken! Whoever falls into your hands, let him be at your mercy! Just as the Huns a thousand years ago , under their king, Attila, gained a reputation in virtue of which they still appear mighty in tradi- tion and story, so may the name German be es- tablished by you in China in such manner that for a thousand years no Chinaman will ever again even dare to look askance at a German. — Berliner Tageblatt, July 28, 1900. "Now over against that put President Wilson's letter to the soldiers of the National Army; Kitchener's charge to all his soldiers, a charge reaffirmed and strengthened by General Pershing to the American troops." Letter from President Wilson to the Men of Our National Army The White House, Washington. To the Soldiers of the National Army: "You are undertaking a great duty. The heart of the whole country is with you. Everything that you do will be watched with the deepest interest and with the deepest solicitude not only by those who are near and dear to you, but by the whole nation besides. For this great war draws us all together, makes us all comrades and brothers, as all true Americans felt themselves to be when we first made good our national independence. The eyes of all the world will be upon you, because you are in some special sense the soldiers of freedom. "Let it be your pride, therefore, to show all men everywhere not only what good soldiers you are, but also what good men you are, keeping yourselves fit and straight in everything and pure and clean through and through. Let us set for ourselves a standard so high that it will be a glory to live up to it and then let us live up to it and add a new laurel to the crown of America. "My affectionate confidence goes with you in every battle and every test. God keep and guide you. "Woodrow Wilson." Letter from Lord Kitchener to His Men Going on Foreign Service "You are ordered abroad as a soldier of the King to help our French comrades against the invasion of a common enemy. You have to perform a task which will need your courage, your energy, your patience. Remember that the honor of the British Army depends upon your individual conduct. It will be your duty to not only set an example of discipline and perfect steadiness under fire, but also to maintain the most friendly relations with those whom you are helping in this struggle. The operations in which you are engaged will, for the most part, take place in a friendly country, and you can do your own country no better service than in showing yourself, in France and Belgium, in the true character of a British soldier. "Be invariably courteous, considerate and kind. Never do anything likely to injure or destroy prop- erty, and always look upon looting as a disgraceful act. You are sure to meet with a welcome and to be trusted; and your conduct must justify that welcome and that trust. Your duty cannot be done unless your health is sound. So keep constantly on your guard against any excesses. In this new experience you may find temptations both in wine and women. You must entirely resist both temp- tations, and while treating all women with perfect courtesy, you should avoid any intimacy. "Do your duty bravely. Fear God. Honor the King. "Kitchener, Field Marshal." General John J. Pershing's Message to His Men "Aroused against a nation waging war in viola- tion of all Christian principles, our people are fighting in the cause of liberty. "Hardship will be your lot, but trust in God will give you comfort. Temptation will befall you, but the teachings of our Saviour will give you strength. "Let your valor as a soldier and your conduct as a man be an inspiration to your comrades and an honor to your country." War's Recompense (The original of this verse was found on an Australian soldier who bravely fought and as nobly died. His name is as yet unknown.) Ye that have faith to look with fearless eyes Beyond the tragedy of a world at strife, And know that out of death and night shall rise The dawn of ampler life. Rejoice, whatever anguish rend the heart, That God has given you a priceless dower, To live in these great times and have your part In Freedom's crowning hour. That ye may tell your sons who see the light High in the Heavens — their heritage to take — "I saw the poweis of Darkness put to flight, I saw the Morning break." The United States of America By Janies Logan, the "G. M." For hundreds of years men had struggled blindly, sometimes confusedly, but always steadily upward toward that National freedom which makes Liberty the bulwark of prosperity and the fountain of happi- ness, until that day in July, one hundred and forty- four years ago, when upon this continent was founded a government based upon the rights of man. Our first thought of the United States is of material things, their abundance and grandeur, but it is more than that. The United States stands for an ideal, a thing of the spirit — you cannot tell what it is — you cannot express it in words. To even try to define it makes limitations; but, let the Stars and Stripes which stand for that ideal ripple out upon the breeze above our heads and we feel the inspiration of a living presence in our hearts, if we have the right kind of human hearts. Since 1777, the Stars and Stripes has been the emblem of this nation, which we believe is the most favored nation on which the sun shines. In the days that are behind us, beneath its sheltering folds, the weakest have sought and found protec- tion and the strongest and most unruly have been and will continue to be taught the lesson of obedi- ence to law. In the years from 1861 to 1865 that flag was purged from the curse and blight of slavery and for over half a century it has floated over a country that we have had a right to call the "land of the free and the home of the brave." In the years that are behind us that flag has repre- sented the highest aspiration of mankind and today, as never before, it stands for the hope of the world ; if the United States and her Allies had gone down in defeat, liberty as we have known it would, we fear , have perished from the earth. The men and women of this generation did not themselves achieve liberty — it was theirs by in- heritance, bought by the suffering sacrifice and shed blood of the generations who for the most part are now sleeping in their graves and they died bequeathing this priceless inheritance of liberty to us with the hope that it would be transmitted to the generations that shall come in the eternity of years that stretch before us into the great unknown future. In entering the world war we were put to the supreme test — we had our choice to determine whether or not America was "the home of the brave," whether we would defend our rights with our prop- erty and lives and continue to be the "land of the free," or whether we would play the part of cringing cowards, unworthy of the men and women of 76, '61 and '98, and consent to be ruled by the iron heel and mailed fist of an autocratic emperor in Europe. The die was cast and the fate of this nation and of the world was to be determined by how the young men of this generation would respond to the chal- lenge. It was once suggested that we might be too proud to fight, but let us thank God that we know now we were too proud not to fight. We entered the war with no selfish purpose, with no thought of material gain and without counting the material loss. We wanted nothing for ourselves but the right to live our own lives without dictation from an autocrat ruling by so-called divine right, and what we demanded for ourselves we demanded for all the nations of the earth. That was all, nothing more, and we would be satisfied with nothing less. In 1863, when a boy of eleven years of age, I went with my father to a war meeting in our home town of Leicester, Mass., when they were recruiting to fill the town's quota of men for the defense of the Union, as the nation in 1917 called for men for the defense of the world. Well do I remember that night and the memory of it thrills me now as through the vista of the years I look back and see two manly young officers looking down into the faces of Leices- ter men, making their appeal for volunteers, to make President Lincoln's work effective, and they said not "go," but "come," and nobly did the boys of Leicester and other towns and cities join in that mighty chorus which went up from school, store, office, farm and factory. "We are coming, Father Abraham, Three hundred thousand strong." June 5, 1917, the citizens of this country lived through one of the most eventful days that this world of ours has ever known, when almost ten million of the best and bravest of her young men between the ages of 21 and 31 said to the nation, over their signatures, "We are ready to serve our country." They pledged themselves to give months, perhaps years, out of their young lives, yes, life itself, to preserve for us the blessings that the fathers under Washington won and that the men of '61 under Lincoln preserved, and our young men were called upon to preserve those blessings for us and our children's children. 12 Those were strenuous times and the war clouds hung dark and low on the horizon, but as a nation we were hardly conscious that we were at war and few had thought what the next Memorial Day might mean to some of us who had husbands, sons and brothers in the ranks, that before another year rolled past into the eternity of the years, before we commemorated another Memorial Day, there would be thousands of broken homes in our land, that thousands of our young men, perhaps our own sons, would have paid not alone for their country but, unselfishly, for the world "the last full measure of devotion," to borrow the inspired and immortal words of Lincoln, that kindly man whose sad and homely face was the index of a great and beautiful soul. The men in blue who fought the battles of the Civil War had almost completed their march and soon taps will be sounded for the last man. The line in khaki faded out of our sight here in America and soon broke in waves over the German trenches in France and Belgium, and the Stars and Stripes had another baptism of blood. The world has never before witnessed such heroism or such sacrifices where our Allies had gained ground on the firing line by the inch and paid for it with their lives. The first seven divisions of the British army that Lord French took to the rescue of Belgium and France in that fateful month of August, 1914, that intrepid army that the Kaiser called "The Contemptible Little English Army," made a record the like of which has not been re- corded since Thermopylae. Frederick Coleman, F. R. G. S., in the Saturday Evening Post of August 11, 1917, said: 13 "In August, 1914, the first division of the British Army under Sir Douglas Haig went to France fourteen thousand odd strong. In six months its casualties, total lists of killed, wounded and missing of all ranks had reached over thirty-four thousand — filled up more than twice with reserves, after twenty- eight days of continuous fighting, such of its regi- ments as the Queen's West Surreys, came out of the firing line with fifteen men and no officers left out of the battalion. The Black Watch mustered only sixty men and one officer. The loyal North Lancastershires but one hundred and fifty men and two officers. Such battalions as the First Cold Streams, the First Cameronians, the Second Wilt- shires and the Second Royal Scots, were wiped out to a man. No one was left to make a report. The sons of France, Belgium and Great Britain on the plains of Flanders purchased immortality, singing as they bled, and smiling as they died, while they were fighting our battle for liberty on the shell- torn fields of Europe, they made for their countries a place in the hearts and affections of the world such as was never known before. The Living Line As long as faith and freedom last, And earth goes round the sun, This stands — the British line held fast And so the fight was won. The greatest fight that ever yet Brought all the world to dearth; A fight of two great nations set To battle for the earth. * * * That bleeding line, that falling fence, That stubborn ebbing wave, That string of suffering human sense, Shuddered, but never gave. A living line of human flesh, It quivered like a brain; Swarm after swaim came on afresh And crashed, but crashed in vain. * * * The world shall tell how they stood fast, And how the fight was won, As long as faith and freedom last And earth goes round the sun. — Harold Begbie. Our young men went to form a part of that line which for almost three years had stretched across Europe from the English Channel to the Alps. They became an integral part of the immortal Belgian and French armies, and that thin line of British khaki, which in those awful months of 1914 gave ground tDgain time and bent before the mighty war machine of Germany which, after forty years of scientific preparation, swept across Belgium and France; but, though outnumbered at some points ten to one, while that thin line bent, let us thank God it did not break, and at the Marne it made its stand, held the German avalanche, blocked the passage to the sea, and saved both Europe and America. Let us in America not forget that. Our young men became a part of that immortal line which will be referred to through all the eternity of the years of coming time. They went to help finish the work of these heroes at the Marne who purchased immortality and saved the world. Gatherings of veterans of the Civil War have a pathetic side and as we have looked upon the gray heads and bent forms of the members of the Grand Army of the Republic, it brings back memories of the past. It has another and a beautiful side. It shows the enduring sense of comradeship born of common acts of heroism and devotion to a great cause. 15 The Civil War was fought and won by young men and every soldier's monument throughout this broad land in eloquent silence teaches the lesson of a citizen's duty to his country. The men of the Grand Army of the Republic cherish a great memory which has a value unmeasured by the standards of material things. As they look back through the vista of the years to the days when they gave out of their young lives years of service to make this country truly free. The men of the Grand Army freed a nation. To the young men of this generation was given the larger task of freeing a world, for that is what this war meant. The size of the job appealed to the imagination of youth. Answering the call of President Wilson, fathers, sons and brothers were formed in the ranks to fight freedom's battle for us and for countless millions yet unborn, for the stake in the great conflict was freedom and the humanity of civilization; and as they went, the Stars and Stripes, with a glorious record of achievement, floated over them and, having God's blessing on it, it had never known defeat and our prayers were answered that it should not know defeat then. The war is ended; the old world as we have known it has passed away and we are to have a wonder- fully different world. The leaders of that new world will come from the ranks of the boys who are leaders now, and who, in the hour of the world's crisis, responded by saying, "Here am I. Send me," and who now have the great privilege to qualify for membership in the Grand Army of the Republics of the world. 16 In Flanders Fields Wiitten by Lieut.-Colonel Dr. John McCrae cf Montreal, Canada, during the second battle of Ypres. The author's body lies buried in Flanders Fields. 1 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly, Scarce heard amidst the guns below. 2 We are the dead, short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. 3 Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from falling hands we throw The torch, be yours to hold it high; If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grew In Flanders fields. Courtesy of G. P. Putnam's Sons, Publishers, New York and London In Flanders Now (By an unknown author) An answer to "In Flanders Fields' 1 We have kept faith, ye Flanders dead, Sleep well beneath those poppies red, That mark your place. The torch your dying hands did throw, We've held it high before the foe, And answered bitter blow for blow, In Flanders fields. 2 And where your heroes' blood was spilled. The guns are now forever stilled, And silent grown. There is no moaning of the slain, There is no cry of tortured pain, And blood will never flow again In Flanders fields. 3 Forever holy in our sight Shall be those crosses gleaming white, That guard your sleep. Rest you in peace, the task is done, The fight you left us we have won, And "Peace on Earth" has just begun In Flanders now. 18 Roll of Honor Men Connected with the United States Envelope Company who Responded to their Country's Call Brigham, Dwight Stillman, Lieut. Col. Buckley, James W M Lieut. Hayes, Raymond Noble, First Sergt. Logan, Donald Brigham, Capt. UNITED STATES ENVELOPE COMPANY CENTRAL OFFICE SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Hein, Willard Elmer, Pri. Pierce, Theron E., Lieut= Thyberg, Hilding S., Pri. LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Alex, Paul P., Pri. Blackwood, Elmer H., Pri. Boyce, John A., Pri. Brigham.ArthurE., First Lieut. Bonney, Ulysses H., Lieut. Brennan, James, Pri. Buffum, Clarence Eugene, Pri. Charbonneau, Joseph A., Pri. Chamberlain, Paul R., Pri. Cocker, Allison Milton, Pri. Cobill, Harry, Pri. Camwell, James H., Pri. Cullen, Thomas, Pri. Coe, Jenry Sumner, Pri. Eddy, William, Pri. Fish, Leslie C, Marine Freeland, Elmer M., Marine Freeburg, Andrew F., Pri. Gordon, Harry W., Pri. Heywood,VincentE,FirstLieut Hoaglund, Ralph D.,Radio El. Haywood, James B., Pri. Hubbard, George, Pri. Hornell, Henry G., Seaman Heath, Raymond B., Ensign Hull, Raymond D., Pri. Joudrey, Asaph E., Pri. Knight, Harry L., Seaman Kimball, Henry J., Seaman Malone, John F., Mate Smith, Arthur G., Lance Corp. Swafrnberg, Oke Andrew, Pri. Sherman, William Atwocd, Jr., Seaman Shepherd, Harry, Pri. Sird, Ira C, Pri. Veinot, Naaman D., Pri. Wheeler, Charles S., Pri. Wentworth, Chester N., Pri. Wilkie, Dawson E., Pri. 19 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE CO. HOLYOKE, MASS. Cary, James Raymond, Serg. Couture, Napoleon, Pri. Ducharme, Horace, Pri. Foster, Frank, Pri. Frank, Arthur W.. Pri. Krall, Walter. Pri. Peterson, Arthur F., Pri. Schoenfeld, Charles R., Pri. Sears, Philip, Serg. Sheehan, Henry C., Seaman Snow, Clifton A., Corp. Wilhelm, Robert C, Pri. WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Ahem, Howard G., Pri. Athanacelous, Alkiviatis, Sea. Chapman, Lewis H., Pri. Glaser, Paul, Pri. Herig, Edward, Pri. Held, Ottmar. Seaman Holtsizer, John C, Pri. Laubscher, Martin P., Serg. Laubscher, Louis K., Pri. Liebe, William, Pri. Poehnert, William, Pri. Rueger, Raymond C, Pri. Trezoglon, Peter D., Pri. Welles, Guy B. : Pri. PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. Brinton, Whilliard A., Pri. Hoffman, Elliott W., Pri. LeRoy, William Bias, Serg. Lehman, I. David, Pri. Lovell, Henry J., Pri. Maradie, Vincent, Pri. Nolan, Edmund C, Pri. O'Brien, George L., Q.M.Serg. Sautner, John W., Yeoman Stewart, John Alexander, Pri. MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Blackmer, William L., Seaman Child, Hervey W., Pri. Casey, Maurice P., Pri. Davis, Stanley T., Pri. Devine, Francis J., Pri. Geraghty, Charles M., Pri. Hopler, William H., Pri. Menard, Joseph N., Pri. Miller, Irving G., Pri. Mize, Clarence Butler, Sergt. Muir, William George, Pri. Olson, Emil A., Supply Sergt. Robar, Arnold L., Mess Sergt. Robinett, Joseph F., Sergt. Shapro, Max, Pri. Swaine, H. S., Pri. Vincent, Terrence A., Pri. Weiman, Geo. N., Sergt. Maj. 20 NATIONAL ENV. CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN. ILL. Anderson, Irwin Ralph, Pri. Bower, J. Vernon, Pri. Butler, Harry, Pri. Connell, John D., 2nd Lieut. Dockery, Lawrence H., Pri. Dunn, Clark A., Pri. Erb, Clarence, Corpl. Fawley, Harry D., Ensign Franke, William, Pri. Fredbeck, Maurice, Pri. Hibbard, Ray, Pri. Hillman,Harvey F.,2nd Lieut. Lamson, L. P., Sergt. Larson, Robert C, Corpl. Lock, Lewis, Seaman Manley, Orrie, Seaman McDonald, John, Sergt. Nitsche, Richard R., Sergt. Palm, Oscar, Coxswain Palm, Walter E., Coxswain Palm, Wm. E., Pri. Rankin, Victor E., Pri. Roos, Charles T., Lieut. Sackman.Lester Frederick,Pri. Swanson, Berthal C, Pri. Thommessen, Stratford, Pri. Tompkins, Milo, Pri. Urban, Stanley, Pri. Wargelin, William, Corpl. Warner, Harry, Corpl. Wilson, Barney, Seaman P. P. KELLOGG & CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Bidard, Eugene J., Seargt. Cosby, Edward William, Pri. Fischer, Edmund Francis, Pri. Marchand, Alcide. Joseph, Pri. Streeter, Edwin W., Asst.Surg. WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Allen, Paul E., Corpl. Guerin, Henry G., Pri. Hornibrook.Edmund L., Corp. Langevin, Joseph S., Pri. Mill, William Malcolm, Supply Sergt. Shea, James J., Lieut. Sweeney, Thomas J., Pri. Wyman, Harold, Pri. W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Bowker, Charles Grant, Capt. Batty, Robert E., Sergt. Beals, Harry, Quartermaster Fenton, William Graham, Pri. Hedlund, Albin, Lieut. Hendricks, Louis W., Pri. Kelly, A. E. Seaman Mayo, George Edward, Corp. Morse, Howard C, Pri. Swallow, Francis P., Corp. PACIFIC COAST ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Cate, Roland, Pri. Keeney, Independence Nugget, Pri. Little, John, Corp. CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Allan, Harry Roll, Seaman Lockhart, Harry Marcus, Pri. Burris, Frank Wayland, Pri. Mater, Loyal Dixon, Pri. Ehlers, Ernest Randolph, Rice, Clell Thompson, Corp. Seaman Secrest, Russell Adams, Sergt. Einspanier, Robert J., Pri. Swallow.SidneyThaxter.Lieut. Frey, Glen Edward, Pri. Walker.George Ralph, Seaman Jones, Bernard, Pri. 22 Lieut. Col. DwightJStillman Brigham Assistant to Gen. Supt. Boston & Albany R. R. Son of the late John S. Brigham of the Logan, Swift & Brigham Envelope Co. Div., Worcester, Mass. Born, Worcester, Mass., Aug. 24, 1886 Harvard University, 1908 American Expeditionary Forces, France July 10, 1917 — Commissioned Major. Engineers, U/S. R. July 25, 1917 — Ordered to active duty and assigned to command 2nd Battalion, 14th Engineers. August 18, 1917 — Arrived on British frcnt September to November, 1 91 7. Attached to British Director of Light Railways. December, 1917, to September, 1918 — Superintendent of Transportation, Department of Light Railways, American Expeditionary Forces. Sept. 10, 1918 — Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Engi- neers, U. S. A. October, 1918, to March 1919 — Attached to General Staff, A. E. F., as Regulating Officer at Liffol-le-Grand, France. Discharged April 22, 1919 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Before he became an aviator He was some golfer Lieut. James W. Buckley Bom, Worcester, Mass. June 24, 1896 Son of Louis H. Buckley, Ass't Gen. Mgr. United States Envelope Co. Dartmouth, 1919 Harvard University Training Camp, 1917 School of Military Aeronautics Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Camp Dix, Dallas, Texas Now with Logan, Swift & Brigham 1st Sergt. Raymond Noble Hayes Son of Noble 0. Hayes Ass't Mgr. Logan, Swift & Brigham Env. Cc. Div. Worcester, Mass. Bom, Holyoke, Mass. Aug. 26, 1895 Quartermaster's Department, Fort Slocum, N. Y. Captain Donald Brigham Logan Treas. Taylor -Logan Co., Papermakers (Son of the "G. M.") Born, Worcester, Mass., Nov. 8, 1881 Dartmouth, 1904 First Plattsburg Training Camp, 1915 2nd Lieut. Co. D. 2nd Mass. Infy., Dec. 20, 1915 " Mexican Border, June to Nov., 1916 Oct., 1917, Second Lieut. 104th U. S. Infantry, 26th Div. g Jan. .1918, First Lieut. 104th U. S. Infy. Feb., 1919, Capt. U.S. Infantry, Secret Code Dept. General Headquarters, A. E. F. Chaumcnt, France Discharged April 9, 1919 Now with Logan Drinking Cup Div. 26 GENERAL OFFICE UNITED STATES ENVELOPE COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASS. • Lieut. Theron E. Pierce Bom, Middlebury, Vt. Sept. 27, 1891 Enlisted Dec. 13, 1917 Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps Ordered to duty as Cadet at U. S. School of Military Aeronautics, Ohio State Uni- versity, Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1918. Graduated Mar. 9, 1918. Commissioned Mar. 13, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Reserve Corps, Aviation Section, and assigned to duty at Taliaferro Field. Private Hilding S. Thyberg Born, Springfield, Mass. June 18, 1896 Bureau of Air Craft Production Washington, D. C. Master Signal Electrician Private Willard Elmer Hein Born, Holyoke, Mass. Jan. 8, 1897 Medical Corps, 104th U. S. Infantry American Exp. Forces, France LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Paul P. Alex Born, Wilna, Russia Feb. 15, 1893 Co. C, 2ndIRegiment, Mass. N. G. 2nd Co., 301st Regt. U. S. Field Artillery Private Elmer H. Blackwood Born, West Boylston, Mass. Mar. 17, 1892 12th Div., 23rd Brigade, Co. 35 Machine Gun Branch 28 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Before the days of war Private John A. Boyce Bom, Worcester, Mass. May 15, 1893 Medical Training Camp, Co. L Fort Ethan Allen, Vt. Am. Exp. Forces, France 55th Coast Artillery «* *s |. 'Jjfc ■:;., ; \ • • %?(:- |; S;' : ; -- r - ' '#1 : " :■ •-. i ^^^_ & 29 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. First Lieut. Arthur E. Brigham Born, Worcester, Mass. Oct. 20, 1887 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1910 Ordnance Department American Expeditionary Forces, France 30 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Lieut. Ulysses H. Bonney Born, Crompton, R. I. July 17, 1886 Aviation Section Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps 41st Balloon Co. Camp John Wise, Texas Private James Brennan 38th'Battery, Canadian Field Artillery Canadian Exp. Forces, France Private Clarence Eugene Buffum Born, Melrose, Mass. Oct. 8, 1891 Co. C, 42nd Regiment, Infantry LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. *»r Private Paul R. Chamberlain Born, Worcester, Mass. Apr. 4, 1894 Aviation Section Signal Corps 65th Aero Squadron San Antonio, Texas Transferred to 84th Aero School Squadron Flying Cadet S. M. A. University of Texas Austin, Texas Priv. Joseph A. Charbonneau Born, Worcester, Mass. Dec. 11, 1897 Co. H., 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass., N. G.) 52nd Brigade, 26th Division American Exp. Forces 32 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. i*£ ^^B^ '•&?*■■ 'si 3- i 1 1 mm 1 i a ft i ft mmmt Private Harry Cobill Born, Birmingham, England July 1, 1891 No. 201437, Railroad Troops, E. T. D. St. John's, Quebec, Canada Private Allison Milton Cocker Born, Worcester, Mass. Aug. 13, 1899 40th Company U. S. Marine Corps 33 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER,[MASS. Private James^H. Camwell Born, Rochdale, Mass. Oct. 30, 1896 40th Co. Depot Brigade Infantry Private Thomas Cullen Born, Lowell, Mass. Nov. 20, 1887 Co. M.28th Infantry, 1st Div. Sailed overseas July 25, 1918 Gassed October 4. at Argonne Discharged Sept. 9, 1919 34 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Henry Sumner Coe Born, Dec. 23, 1893 Dept. Truck Driver, Aviation Corps Private William Eddy Born, Carlisle, England July 17, 1880 Co. A, 1st Depot Battalion C. 0. R. Toronto, Canada LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Marine Leslie C. Fish Born, Worcester, Mass. June 21, 1897 Merchant Marine, U. S. S. Meade Marine Elmer M. Freeland Born, Worcester, Mass. Aug. 10, 1893 Merchant Marine, Training Ship Meade 36 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private 1st Class Harry W. Gordon Born, Worcester, Mass. Sept. 3, 1896 Hdqrs. Co. 42nd Brigade Camp Eustis, Va. Discharged Dec. 23, 1919 Private Andrew F. Freeburg Born, Worcester, Mass. Nov. 15, 1888 Detention Battalion No. 1 5 13th Co. Camp Greenleaf Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. American Expeditionary Forces, France Camp Hospital No. 20 •■ jjtt « 1 -'' §s Y&9j/f!rjf' " S 111 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. First Lieut. Vincent E. Heywood Born, Springfield, Mass. Jan. 20, 1889 S. S. Unit No. 17 American Ambulance Corps Transferred to the American Aviation Service American Exp. Forces, France 38 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private James B. Haywood Bom, Lowell, Mass. Aug. 18, 1890 42nd Infantry Co. C, 12th Div. Radio Electrician Ralph D. Hoaglund Born, Worcester, Mass. July 26, 1896 U. S. Naval Reserve Radio Electrician 2nd Class Newport, R. I. 39 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private George Hubbard Born, Worcester, Mass. Nov. 4, 1896 Signal Corps, Aviation Section Fort Sam Houston San Antonio, Texas American Exp. Forces, France Seaman Henry G. Hornell Born, West Springfield, Mass. Sept. 12, 1895 Apprentice Seaman, U. S. Navy Signal School, Norfolk, Va. Ensign Raymond B. Heath Born, Mystic, Conn. Sept. 9, 1896 Seaman, 2nd Class, Naval Unit Ensign U. S. S. Transport Radnor 40 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Raymond D. Hull Born, Worcester, Mass. Mar. 6, 1897 Battery B, 1 st Regiment, F. A. R. D. Camp Jackson, South Carolina Private Asaph E. Joudrey Born, Nova Scotia Aug. 30, 1892 Co. L, 303rd Regiment Infantry American Exp. Forces, France LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Seaman Harry L. Knight Born, Worcester, Mass., Nov. 25, 1899 Enlisted Dec. 3, 1917, at Boston, Mass. Transferred to the U. S. S. Maumee, an oil tanker, duty oiling Destroyers in the submarine zone, off coast of Ireland. Transferred to U. S. S. Herman Frasch. This vessel was sunk in collision off coast of Nova Scotia the night of Oct. 4, 1 91 8. Was picked up by the Tank ship George G. Henery after being in the water one and one-half hours without a life-belt, with left side and leg crushed. Sent to U. S. Army base hospital at Ellis Island, New York. Jan. 8, 1919, attached to U. S. S. Flamingo, minesweeper No. 32. Sailed May 18, 1919, for minesweeping duty in the North Sea aboard the U. S. S. Flamingo. Completed mine- sweeping and returned to the United States Nov. 18, 1919. Discharged as Yeoman 1st class, Dec. 6, 1919. LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Seaman Henry J. Kimball Born, Worcester, Mass. Apr. 13, 1899 Seaman, 2nd class, Naval Unit 43 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Mate John F. Malone Born, Worcester, Mass. May 8, 1895 Machinist's Mate, Naval Reserve Norfolk, Va. Lance Corporal Arthur G. Smith, Jr. Born, Holden, Mass. Aug. 4, 1894 Co. G, 101st U. S. Infantry (Formerly 9th Mass., N. G.) American Exp. Forces, France Wounded Chemin-de-Dames Feb. 27, 1918 Gassed Montfucon Oct. 25, 1918 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Oke Andrew Swahnberg Born, Sweden Apr. 26, 1892 Co. G, 42nd Infantry Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass. Seaman William Atwocd Sherman, Jr Born, Fitchburg, Mass. Jan. 12, 1900 Seaman, U. S. S. Culgoa 45 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER1MASS. Private Harry Shepherd Bern, Heywocd, Lancashire England Dec. 22, 1895 Co. H, 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass. National Guard) 52nd Brigade, 26th Division American Exp. Forces, France Wounded in action Mar. 15, 1918 Wounded in action July 18, 1918 Private Ira C. Sird Born, Salisbury, Vermont Dec. 4, 1892 Co. F, 18th Cavalry LOGAN.-SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Naaman D. Veinot Bom, Hemford, N. S. Oct. 29, 1892 9th Siege Battery Canadian Heavy Artillery Canadian Exp. Forces, France Gassed about Oct. 1, 1918 Private^Charles S. Wheeler Born, Roxbury, Mass. July 25, 1895 Co. B, 102nd U. S. Field Artillery, Mechanic American Exp. Forces, France 47 LOGAN, SWIFT & BRIGHAM ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Chester Nelson Wentworth Born, Worcester, Mass. March 22, 1901 Hospital Staff, 23rd Regiment Walter Reed Hospital Tacoma Park Washington, D. C. Private Dawson E. Wilkie Born, Lunenburg Co. N. S. May 19, 1891 Co. D, First Battalion Infantry New Brunswick, N. S. Canadian Exp. Forces, France 48 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. HOLYOKE, MASS. Sergt. James Raymond Cary Born, Holyoke, Mass. Aug. 31, 1890 Q. M. Sergeant 9th Co., 152nd Regiment Camp Upton, Long Island Private Napoleon Couture Born, Holyoke, Mass. Feb. 9, 1895 Enlisted Dec. 9, 1917 60th Squadron, Aviation Camp Waco, Texas Discharged JuneJ3d, 1919 Private Horace Ducharme Born, Holyoke, Mass. March 19, 1894 18th Infantry, 5th Depot Brigade Camp Devens, Mass. Discharged Jan. 21, 1919 49 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. HOLYOKE, MASS. Private Frank Foster Born, Worcester, Mass. Nov. 28, 1886 Called Sept. 11,1918 Infantry at Camp Devens Died at Camp in Syracuse, N. Y. Oct. 22, 1918 Private Arthur W. Frank Born, Holyoke, Mass. March 18, 1897 Enlisted Sept. 19, 1918 Mechanical Service University of Vermont Discharged Dec. 12, 1918 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. HOLYOKE, MASS. Private Walter Krall Born, Heilbronn, Wurtemburg Germany April 8, 1894 Called Aug. 31, 1918 Medical Corps, Base Hospital Camp Devens, Mass. Discharged May 31, 1919 Private Arthur F. Peterson Born, Worcester, Mass. Aug. 22, 1897 Inducted Oct. 10, 1918 Y. M. C. A. Training College Springfield, Mass. Discharged Dec. 10, 1918 Private Charles R. Schoenfeld Born, Holyoke, Mass. July 30, 1894 Called Aug. 6,11918 Infantry at Camp Devens Discharged June 31, 1919 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. HOLYOKE, MASS. Sergeant Philip Seais Born, Hclyoke, Mass. Sept. 2, 1896 Enlisted Apr. 23, 1918 Signal Corps, Co. F, 8th Depot Brigade Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Overseas Aug. 22, 1918 Discharged July 21, 1919 Seaman Henry C. Sheehan Born, Holyoke, Mass. Apr. 17, 1897 Enlisted July 25, 1918 U. S. Navy Seaman Released Oct. 6, 1919 Private Robert C. Wilhelm Born, Holyoke, Mass. June 26, 1897 Enlisted Sept. 19, 1918 Mechanical Service University of Vermont Discharged Dec. 9, 1918 52 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. HOLYOKE, MASS. Corp. Clifton A. Snow Born, Holyoke, Mass. Dec. 28, 1886 Co. L, 106th U. S. Infantry, A. E. F. 53rd Brigade, 27th Division (Formerly 23rd N. Y. N. G.) Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S. C. Discharged April, 1919 WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Private Howard G. Ahern Born, Rockville, Conn. June 4, 1899 Sanitary Department, 104th U. S. Infantry American Expeditionary Forces, France WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Private Lewis H. Chapman Born, Rockville, Conn. July 24, 1896 Detached Infantry, 2nd Co. Clerical Service Fort Slocum, N. Y. Seaman Alkiviatis Athanacelous Born near Athens, Greece April 10, 1892 U. S. Coast Guard New London, Conn. 55 WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Private Edward Herig Born, Rockville, Conn. July 7, 1899 Troop I, Cavalry Fort Mackintosh, Texas Private Paul Glaser Born, New York City June 4, 1893 D Company, 29th Division 112th Machine Gun Battalicn American Expeditionary Forces WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Private John C. Holtsizer Born, Ellington, Conn. Sept. 25, 1889 28th Ambulance Company 4th Division, Medical Corps American Exp. Fcrces, France Seaman Ottmar Held Born, Rockville, Conn. Apr. 5, 1897 Naval Reserve New Haven, Conn. 57 WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Sergeant Martin P. Laubscher Born, Rcckville, Conn. July 25, 1887 Quartermaster's Corps, U.S.A. Washington, D. C. Private Louis K. Laubscher Born, Rockville, Conn. Apr. 4, 1889 Company Clerk, Supply Co. 74th Infantry Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass. 58 WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Private William Liebe Born, Rockville.. Conn. July 4, 1891 Medical Detachment Base Hospital Camp Upton, L. I., New York Private William Poehnert Born, Rockville, Conn. Aug. 5, 1888 Field Artillery, 33rd Regiment Battery B Camp Meade, Md. 59 WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Piivate Peter D. Trezcglon Bern, Eresscs.Mitylen, Greece Nov. 15, 1887 23rd Ccmpany, 6th Battalion, 152nd Depot Brigade Camp Upton, Yaphank, N. Y. American Exp. Forces, France Private Raymond C. Rueger Bom, Rockville, Conn. March 12, 1895 Headquarters Company Machine Gun School Camp Benning, Columbus,Ga. /$\ 60 WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. ROCKVILLE, CONN. Private Guy B. Welles Born, Glastonbury, Conn. Oct. 16, 1892 104th Engineer Corps, 29th Division American Expeditionary Forces, France PLIMPTON MFG. CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. Private Whilliard A. Brinton Born, Elmhurst, N. Y. Sept. 10, 1892 Co. D, 106th Machine Gun Battalion Private Elliott W. Hoffman Born, Worcester, Mass. Sept. 27, 1898 Gun Sighter U. S. S. Wenoivah II 62 PLIMPTON MFG. CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. Sergt. William Bias LeRoy Born, Hartford, Conn. July 25, 1895 Co. K., 102nd U. S. Infantry (Formerly 1st Conn. N. G.) American Expeditionary Forces, France PLIMPTON MFG. CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. Private I. David Lehman Born, Lemburg, Austria Oct. 8, 1888 306th Infantry, 77th Division American Expeditionary Forces, France Wounded Vesle Sector, Aug. 25, 1918 64 PLIMPTON MFG. CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. fffT- *jft m ~ 4 : *"' ' &v 1 ^ \ ?**** ^82^'* **^ • ¥t r 7S f i ] M ' V . l^jU i 7*BI I^^tI ;rj;-;r :"^v. rjff'fb Private Henry J. Lovell Born, Holyoke, Mass. Dec. 15, 1895 356th Machine Gun Co., 89th Division American Expeditionary Forces, France 65 PLIMPTON MFG. CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. Private Vincent Maradie Born, Mormano, Italy Nov. 12, 1895 29th Division, Field Artillery American Exp. Forces Private Edmund C. Nolan Born, New York City June 6, 1891 Co. E, 71st Infantry, 11th Division American Exp. Forces Q. M. Sergt. George L. O'Brien Born, Haydenville, Mass. Feb. 9, 1893 Quartermaster's Corps PLIMPTON MFG. CO. DIV. HARTFORD, CONN. Yeoman John W. Sautner Born, Newark, N. J. Oct. 15, 1893 U. S. S. Seattle Private John Alexander Stewart Born, London, England Jan. 15, 1891 Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders British Army MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Seaman Wm. L. Blackmer Born, Ludlow, Mass. Sept. 4, 1899 U. S. Navy, Apprentice Seaman, then 2nd CI. Gunner's Mate Private Maurice P. Casey Born, Adams, Mass. Sept. 4, 1895 Co. A, 345th Infantry American Expeditionary Forces, France 68 MORGAN STATIONERY CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private Hervey W. Child Bom, Lyndonville, Vt. Sept. 14, 1899 Medical Dept. U. S. A., Fort Slocum, N. Y. Camp Surgeon's Office, Camp Merritt, N. J. 69 MORGAN STATIONERY CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private Stanley T. Davis Born, Chicopee Falls, Mass. June 7, 1899 Called Nov. 1, 1918 Recalled Nov. 12, 1918 before Mr. Davis had been ordered to report Private Francis J. Devine Born, Springfield, Mass. Dec. 14, 1898 Called August, 1918 Assigned to Fort Rodman, New Bedford, Mass. Discharged Dec. 19, 1918 MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (Chicago Office) Private Charles M. Geraghty Born, Springfield, Mass. Jan. 24, 1890 1st Army Air Service Enlisted Dec, 1917, Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Sailed for France in July. Transferred to Squadron No. 337 November 10th. Outbound for front line. Order changed because of armistice. Discharged at Camp Grant, Dec. 28, 1918. 71 MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. U ISPRINGFIELDJMASS. Private William' H.[Hepler Born, Springfield, Mass. July 18, 1887 First Assignment Aviation Section Signal Corps Waco, Texas Later assigned to 500 Aero Squadron American Expeditionary Forces Private Jos. N. Menard Born, Penacook, N. H. May 28, 1893 Quartermaster's Corps Camp Devens 72 MORGAN STATIONERY CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private Irving G. Miller Born, Meriden, Conn. May 11, 1890 Called March 29, 1918. Assigned to 77th Division, Battery A, 306th Field Artillery. Sailed April 24, 1918, to Brest, France, Was in Baccarat Sector July 15th to August 1st, 1918. Vesle Sector August 11th to August 18th, 1918. Oise Aisne August 18th to September 16th, 1918. Meuse Argonne September 26th to November 11th, 1918. Returned to the United States April 29th, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, Mass., May 10, 1919. American Expeditionary Forces, France 73 MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Sergt. Clarence Butler Mize Born, Lamed, Kansas Apr. 2, 1887 Co. A, 304th U. S. Infantry, then Watertown Arsenal, Engineering Detachment Enlisted Ord. Corps, Nat'l Army MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Tissue Department Private William George Muir Born, Springfield, Mass. Dec. 19, 1894 Naval Reserve, Pelham Bay. N. Y. MORGAN STATIONERY CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Supply Sergt. Emil A. Olson Born, New York City March 18, 1893 Co. G, 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass. N. G.) American Expeditionary Forces France Enlisted June 21, 1916, for Mexican Border service. Mustered out into Reserve Nov. 1, 1916. Called to active service March 25, 1917. Sailed October 2, 1917, to Havre, France. Went into action February 2, 1918. Remained in action until July 18, 1918, on which day he was wounded at Chateau-Thiery. Returned to the United States April 11, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, Mass., May 7, 1919. 75 MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. i^^^^J. *"^t4"" ~ ^1k s^tBI^* W)*?^^ ^js ^y^tSS^r - "^ v » J ■vN 1 Mi Mess Seret. Arnold L. Robar Born, North Adams, Mass. Dec. 17, 1894 Co. K, 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass. N. G.) 52nd Brigade, 26th Dhisicn Assigned to 1st Co., 101st Supply Train American Expeditionary Forces, France 76 MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Chicago Office Sergt. Joseph F. Robinett, A. S. C. Born, Chicago, Illinois Mar. 6, 1897 Entered United States Army, Aug. I, 1918 Sailed fcr overseas with 28th Battery, F. A. R. D., in October. In France was transferred to the 2nd Regiment, F. A. R. D. end was sent to the old Russian camp at Le Corneau. Was assigned to duty in the auditing and Purchasing Dept. of the American Commission to negotiate peace at Hotel Crillon the early part of .December. Discharged at Camp Grant, Sept. 3, 1919 77 MORGAN STATIONERY CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private Max Shapro Born in Russia, February 21, 1895 Called June 24, 1918. Went to Camp Devens.. Mass., and was assigned to Headquarters 34th Machine Gun Battalion. Discharged from service January 28, 1919. 78 MORGAN ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private^H. C.^Swaine Born, North East Harbor, Nova Scotia Mar. 12, 1890 Draughtsman Ordnance Dept., Washington, D. C. Sergt. Major George N. Weiman Born, Hoboken, N. J. July 11, 1893 First Assignment, Line 66, Trade Div. First Training Brigade, Kelly Field South San Antonio, Texas Later appointed Sergeant Major 100 Aero Squadron American Expeditionary Forces MORGAN STATIONERY CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private Terrence A. Vincent Born, Springfield, Mass. Oct. 2, 1893 Called October 10, 1918, and assigned to Camp Devens, Mass. 40th Co. 10th Battalion, Depot Brigade Discharged December 5, 1918 79 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Private Irwin Ralph Anderson Born, Chicago, Illinois Aug. 26, 1898 Student Army Training Corps University of Wisconsin Madison, Wis. Private J. Vernon Bower Born, Mason City, Iowa Dec. 23, 1899 Gunner's Mate (J. S. S. Kansas 80 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Private Harry Butler Princeton, Ky. Dec. 26, 1900 Sapper, 47th Battalion, Engineers 4th Division, Canadian Army Wounded by shrapnel in June, 1918, during fighting near Ypres, Belgium. After being in Hospital two months, recovered and rejoined his Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Forces 2nd Lieut. John D. Connell Born, Lake Forest, 111. Dec. 1, 1897 Air Service Aeronautics, U. S. Army Love Field, Dallas, Texas NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Seaman Lawrence H. Dockery Born, Racine, Wisconsin April 10, 1900 Apprentice Seaman, U. S. Navy United States^Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. Private Clark A.^Dunn Born, Rio, Illinois Nov. 24, 1895 Co. E, 1st Replacement Engineers American Exp. Forces, France 82 NATIONAL ENVELOPE^*). DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. JH: Corpl. Clarence Erb Born, Waukegan, 111., Nov. 16, 1887 Co. I, 130th Infantry, 33rd Division Wounded on October 10, 1918, in the Argonne Woods while administering First Aid to a Member of Co. K of his Regiment. He fell during the progress of the Battle on the right bank of the Meuse. Removed to a Hospital near the village of Confeneye, France, where he died on November 1st, 1918. Prior to being wounded, Mr. Erb had been recommended for training at an Officers Training School in France. American Expeditionary Forces, France NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Ensign Harry D. Fawley Born, Grafton, West Virginia Novl23, 1893 Ensign (D)}U S. Naval Reserve U. S. S. Wolverine and Officers Material School Pelham Bay, N. Y. Private William Franke Born, Waukegan, 111. June 3, 1897 Storekeeper 2nd Class, Supply Dept. U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. Private Maurice Fredbeck Born, Waukegan, 111. Sept. 14, 1896 3rd Class Storekeeper U. S. Naval Reserve U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Private Ray Hibbard Bom, Chicago, III. Jan. 10, 1889 U. S. Naval Reserve U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, III. 2nd Lieut. Harvey F. Hillman Born, Pelham, N. H. April 27, 1891 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1914 Co. E, 342nd U. S. Infantry Served with 16th, 615th and 1 103rd Aero Squadrons in France and Italy. American Expeditionary Forces Sergt. L. P. Lamson Born, Libertyville, 111. Feb. 4, 1888 Sergt. 130th Inf., 33rd Division While in France Lamson was assigned to Occupational Duty as Paper Cutter at a U. S. A. Printing Plant in Paris. He was selected for this duty when it was learned that he was a cutter, as noted in his Service Record. American Exp. Forces, France 85 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Corp. Robert C. Larson Born, Port Washington, N. Y. July 12, 1896 6th Battalion Trench Artillery American Exp. Forces, France Seaman Lewis Lock Born, New Jersey March 13, 1898 Seaman First Class, U. S. Navy U. S. S. Prince Frederick Wilhelm Seaman Orrie Manley Born, Waukegan, 111. March 13, 1897 Seaman Second Class U. S. Navy U. S. Submarine Base New London, Conn. and U. S. Submarine G-2 86 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Sergt. John McDonald Born, Bolden, England Dec. 25, 1867 Recruiting Depot Fort Thomas, Ky. Sergt. Richard R. Nitsche Born, Chicago, III. Oct. 18, 1893 Senior Sergeant, Rents, Requisitions and Claims Co. Duty in England and France American Exp. Forces, France 87 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Walter E. Palm Born, Waukegan, 111. Dec. 5, 1896 Coxswain, U. S. Navy Receiving Ship Philadelphia, Pa., and U. S. S. Dixie Oscar Palm Born, Worcester, Mass. July 4, 1891 Coxswain, U. S. Navy U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. 88 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. fft. ..■ mt*-'- " ■ ■J ' ' $3 gagamMMi '' ' :; " : * Corpl. Wm. E. Palm Born, Worcester, Mass. Feb. 17, 1889 Co. H, 110th Infantry, 28th Div. Palm was wounded during the. Meuse-Argonne Battle near Varennes on Sept. 27, 1918, and was removed to a Hospital where he recovered in time to return with his Regiment. American Expeditionary Forces, France 89 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Private Victor Rankin Born, Fairport, Ohio Apr. 6, 1897 Musician U. S. Navy U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. Charles T. Rcos Lieut, (j. g.) Pay Corps, U. S. N. R. F. Born, Chicago, 111. May 23, 1893 Headquarters Co. 149th Field Artillery Camp Mills, Hempstead, N. Y. Transferred to U. S. Navy as Assistant Paymaster with rank of Ensign Performed duty in First Naval District and at Chicago, 111. 90 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Private Lester Frederick Sackman Born, Waukegan, III. July 17, 1897 Fireman First Class, U. S. N. R. F. U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. Private Berthal C. Swanson Born, Chicago, 111. April 21, 1896 2nd Class Machinist's Mate (Aviation) U. S. N. R. F. U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. Private Stratford Thommessen Born, Chicago, 111. Aug. 2, 1895 Machinist's Mate, 2nd Class U. S. Navy On duty in France and Belgium with the Northern Bombing Group 91 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Private Milo Tompkins Born, Chicago, III. Mar. 16, 1893 U. S. Army Camp Grant Rockford, 111. Private Stanley Urban Born, Poland Apr. 20, 1892 Machinist's Mate (Aviation) U. S. N. R. F. 92 NATIONAL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WAUKEGAN, ILL. Corp. William Wargelin Born, Champion, Mich. July 6, 1895 Base Censure and Interpreter Detachment Camp Merritt, N. J. Corp. Harry Warner Born, Waukegan, 111. May 7, 1899 Co. K, 40th Infantry Reg. 14th Division Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio Seaman Barney Wilson Born, Waukegan, 111. June 7, 1901 Seaman, U. S. Navy U. S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, 111. 93 P. P. KELLOGG & CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Sergt. Eugene J. Bidard Born, Waterbury, Conn. May 13, 1898 11th Cavalry Headquarters Company Medical Officers Training Camp Camp Greenleaf Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Mustered in at Fort Slocum, N. Y. Discharged from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Jan. 22, 1919 94 P. P. KELLOGG & CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Private Edward William Cosby Born, Westfield, Mass. Oct. 1, 1897 Co. B, 104th U. S. Infantry American Exp. Forces, France Private Edmund Francis Fischer Born, San Antonio, Texas Aug. 14, 1896 U. S. Naval Aviation U. S. Training Camp Discharged from Training Camp Dec. 28, 1918 Private Alcide Joseph Marchand Born Holyoke, Mass. Nov. 1, 1895 Fort Slocum Fort Ethan Allen Camp Jackson 58th Field Artillery Discharged from Camp Devens Jan 31, 1919 95 P. P. KELLOGG & CO. DIV. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Asst. Surgeon Edwin W. Streeter Born, Holyoke, Mass. Apr. 9, 1895 Medical Department, 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass. N. G.) Transferred to Fifth Sanitary Train American Expeditionary Forces, France Went to France Sept. 25, 1917. Stationed at Harriville, just west of Neuf Chateau, till Feb. 4, 1918. From there to Chemin- des-Dames front. Wounded on Chemin-des-Dames front in course of duty and sent^to Base Hospital 66, Neuf Chateau. Returned Apr. 9, 1919. Discharged from Camp Devens May 2, 1919. 96 WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Corp. Paul E. Allen Born, Hyde Park, Mass. Apr. 20, 1895 Worcester Trade School, 1914 Enlisted June 19, 1916 Co. H, 104th Infantry Served at Mexican Border American Exp. Forces, France from October, 1917, to April, 1919 Private Henry G. Guerin Born, Nov. 8, 1892 Leicester, Mass. Served in Quartermaster Dept. Camp Upton, N. Y. From Sept. 30, 1918, to Apr. 4, 1919 97 WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Corp. Edmund L. Hornibrook Born, Plymouth, England Apr. 16, 1892 Enlisted June 4, 1917 Co. C, 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass. N. G.) 52nd Brigade, 26th Division American Expeditionary Forces, France from Oct. 4, 1917, to Apr. 4, 1919 Discharged at Camp Devens, Apr. 28, 1919 98 WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Joseph S. Langevin Born, Feb. 16, 1898 Spencer, Mass. Enlisted Dec. 8, 1917, 21st Co., C. A. C. s Fort Strong, Mass. Transferred to 18th Co., C. A. C, Mar. 28, 1918. Transferred to 5th Unit, Sept., 1918. Automatic Replacement Battalion Aug. 25, 1918. Left for France, Sept. 23, 1918. Transferred to Battery C, Tractor Arty. Repl. Batt., Oct. 28, 1918. Assigned to Sup. Co., 55th Reg., C. A. C. Nov. 7th joined outfit at Epinon- ville, Nov. 8th, in time for last days of Meuse, Argonne, offensive to Nov. 11, 1918. Returned to U. S. A. Jan. 22, 1919. Discharged Feb. 8, 1919, at Fort Wright, N. Y. 99 WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Supply Sergt. William Malcolm Mill Born, Glasgow, Scotland July 3, 1890 Camp Devens, Sept. 6, 1917 Supply Sergt. Dec. 6, 1917 Co. C, 301st Ammunition Train, 76th Div. March 15, 1918, transferred to Headquarters Dept., 301st Ammunition Train. Dec. 4, 1918, transferred to special duty at St. Argonne, Classification Camp. Returned attached to Co. B, 143rd Infantry, 36th Div. Discharged June 9, 1919. 100 WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Lieut. James J. Shea, F. A. Born, Cambridge, Mass. Aug. 18, 1889 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1912 Inf. Sgt. 34th Co. 3rd Bm. 151st Depot Brigade Motor Section Instruction Schools Peoria, 111., Kenosha, Wis., Rock Island, 111. Ord. Sgt. 301st Mobile Ordnance Repair Shops, 76th Div. Commissioned Lieut. Field Artillery Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Ky. Instructor Materiel 7th Regt. 3rd Brigade, F. A. Camp Jackson, S. C. 101 R. D. WHITCOMB ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Pri\ate Thcmas J. Sweeney Born, Jan. 5, 1897 Worcester, Mass. Enlisted Aug. 15, 1918 Franklin Union Training Detachment on Automobiles and Motors Motor Transportation Corps Fortress Monroe Tractors and Automobiles Discharged Feb. 5, 1919 Private Harold Wyman Born, Feb. 26, 1919 Bradford, N. H. Served in Co. D, 42nd Infantry Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass. July 23, 1918, to October, 1918 42nd Inf., Co. D, 12th Div. Camp Upton, New York From Oct., 1918, to Feb. 24, 1919 102 W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Capt. Charles Grant Bowker Born, Worcester, Mass. Aug. 24, 1891 Plattsburg, 1917 Co. D, 302nd U. S. Infantry, 76th Div. American Expeditionary Forces, France 103 W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Sergt. Robert E. Batty Born, Worcester, Mass. June 3, 1895 Medical Supply Unit, 4th Div. American Exp. Forces, France Harry Beals First Class Quartermaster Born, Hardwick, Mass. June 30, 1889 Army Transport Service W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Wm. Graham Fenton Born, Worcester, Mass. Aug. 25, 1895 Salvation Motor Truck Service Ligny-en-Barrios, Meuse, France 105 W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Lieut. Albin Hedlund Born, Sweden Sept. 2, 1891 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1914 Plattsburg, 1917 Battery C, 303rd Regiment, U. S. Field Artillery, 76th Div. American Expeditionary Forces, France 106 W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Louis W. Hendricks Born, Worcester, Mass. May 4, 1898 Co. C, 104th U. S. Infantry (Formerly 2nd Mass. Nat'l Guard) 26th Division, 52nd Brigade American Exp. Forces, France A. E. Kelly, Seaman, First Born, Worcester, Mass. Jan. 20, 1897 Submarine Patrol, U. S. Navy W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Corp. George Edward Mayo Born, July 25, 1893 St. Albans, Vt. Co. F, 307th Supply Train Motor, 82nd Div. American Expeditionary Forces, France W. H. HILL ENVELOPE CO. DIV. WORCESTER, MASS. Private Howard C. Morse Born, Chicopee Falls, Mass. Aug. 10, 1895 311th Supply Co. : . Q. M. C. American Exp. Forces, France Corp. Francis P. Swallow Born, Allston, Mass. March 1, 1894 6th Obs. Bal. F. A. C. 0. T. S. Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky. 109 PACIFIC COAST ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SAN FRANCISCO. CAL. Private Roland Cate Born, San Francisco, Cal. Apr. 10, 1894 Naval Reserve, San Diego, Calif. Private Independence Nugget Keeney Born, Independence, Montana Jan. 8, 1894 Co. G, 168th Infantry American Exp. Forces HO PACIFIC COAST ENVELOPE CO. DIV. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Corp. John Little Born, Kelso, Scotland Dec. 8, 1888 Battery F, 47th Coast Artillery Corps ill CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Seaman Harry Roll Allan Born, Cincinnati, Ohio May 22, 1897 Seaman 2-C, U. S. Navy Signal Corps Private Frank Wayland Burris Born, Mount Comfort, Ind. May 28, 1894 Cook, Co. K 130th U. S. Infantry American Exp. Forces 112 CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Seaman Ernest Randolph Ehlers Born, Hazelton, Indiana 1900 Seaman, 1st Class, U. S. Navy American Expeditionary Forces Private Robert J. Einspanier Born, Cincinnati, Ohio Apr. 10, 1894 40th Balloon Co. Aviation Section, Signal Corps CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Private Glen Edward Frey Born, Tipton, Ind. Mar. 3, 1896 Medical Field Hospital No. 149 113 Sanitary Train, 38th Div. Camp Shelby Hattiesburg, Miss. Private Bernard Jones Born, Madison, Ind. June 10, 1897 Battery E, 139th Regiment Field Artillery American Exp. Forces CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Pri. Harry Marcus Lockhart Born, Waverly, Ind. Feb. 26, 1887 Group 1 , 1 59th Depot Brigade Development Battalion No. 1 Private Loyal Dixon Mater Born, Bellmore, Ind. Aug. 17, 1893 58 Balloon Co. American Expeditionary Forces 115 CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Corp. Clell Thompson Rice Born, Jackson, Ohio May 12, 1896 Signal Detachment 140th Field Artillery, Battery D American Expeditionary Forces Sergt. Russell Adams Secrest Born, Indianapolis, May I, 1898 Sergeant S. A. T. C. Purdue University Lafayette, Ind. 116 CENTRAL STATES ENVELOPE CO. DIV. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Lieut. Sidney Thaxter Swallow Born, Allston, Mass. Sept. 14, 1892 C. Co., 55th Engineers American Expeditionary Forces Seaman George Ralph Walker Born, Mt. Carmel, III. Mar. 23, 1899 Seaman 2nd Class U. S. Navy Signal Corps THE YAPHANK - DEVENS TEAM Ten-Mile Road Race, Peoria, 111. Jan. 1, 1918. (Reading left to right.) J. Malcom, 77th Div., Camp Upton, N. Y. C. E. Hawley, 77th Div., Camp Upton, N. Y. J. L. Johnson, 77th Div., Camp Upton, N. Y. Lieut. James J. Shea, 76th Div., Camp Upton, N. Y. (Whitcomb Envelope Div.) 118 Each team in this race consisted of four men with twenty teams competing. The race was run in heavy marching order, including the rifle and a pack weighing in the neighborhood of 50 lbs. In addition to be classed as a finisher each team had to see to it that the four packs came across the line at the same time regardless of whether one man carried all four packs or each man carried his own. Due to the fact that the other three men from Camp Devens were not athletically inclined, Lieut. James J. Shea ran with the team representing Camp Upton, Yaphank, N. Y. The teams picked for winners were naturally those representing the marines, who are supposed to be the best trained men and best men physically in any branch of the service. The Yaphank-Devens team ran splendidly up to the eighth mile when one of the men, becoming exhausted, had to sur- render his pack to one of the other men. Lieut. Shea being one of the strongest of the four men, the surrendered pack was placed on his back. On the last half mile the second man showed signs of exhaustion and his pack was in turn placed on the shoulders of Shea, with the result that Lieut. Shea carried three packs, or close to 150 lbs., for the last half mile. The Yaphank- Devens team with this handicap finished second in the race, only about eleven seconds behind the team from Camp Lee, Va., winners of the race. Medals were awarded each of the four men from Yaphank- Devens while the winners of the race received individual cups and one large trophy which was presented to the cantonment. In this particular race the superiority of the marines was miscalculated — for one marine team finished No. 8 and the other No. 13. The Hall-mark of Quality February, 1921 Number 12 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In Rockville, Conn. by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. THE PRESENT HOME OF THE WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. White & Stickney White & Corbin White, Corbin & Co. The White, Corbin & Co. 1853 1855 1866 1885 The White, Corbin & Co. Div. Aug. 1898 CHAPTER VI The envelope industry had its beginnings in this country in a number of places: New York, Philadelphia, Springfield and Wor- cester, Mass., Hartford and Rockville, Conn. It can truly be said that history is a record of every day but yesterday, and of every generation but the present. Yesterday is so near to us that we do not consider its events which form the commonplace happenings of our lives, as having more than a passing interest, but the events of yesterday and the day before are the foundations upon which we build today and upon which we will build all the future tomorrows. As we turn back the pages of the past to the day of smaller things and get far enough away from today so that we can get the proper perspective, we find that the events of yesterday and the day before are of vital interest. What is more interesting or inspiring than the record of the work of the early pioneers in every line of industry in this country? What a contribution to history could be made if in every city the history of each separate invention and industry could be correctly and sympathetically written ; and, while some of the record would read like a romance, there would be chapters which would read, not like a romance, but like a tragedy, and while many of those early pioneers did not reach their goal, they made great contributions and made possible the success of some of those who followed them, for on the appar- ently insecure foundations which they laid, their successors have been permitted to build their success. And yet, many there are who are not conscious of the debt owed to these men, some of whom were looked upon by their fellow men and often by themselves as failures, but they laid the foundations upon which we of today have been permitted to build and we should hold their memory in grateful appreciation. Cyrus White, the founder of White, Corbin & Co., was born in Richford, Vermont, Nov. 18, 1814, and died at Rockville, May 10, 1891, aged 77 years. He was brought up" on a farm and early learned what hard work meant. He developed a strong, vigorous, healthy body. In the district school which he attended for a few weeks each year he acquired the rudi- ments of a limited education and at the age of nineteen he was apprenticed for three years to a blacksmith at Enosburg, Vt. His bi- ographer says: "Here he learned literally and figuratively to strike while the iron was hot" and it can truthfully be said of him he never forgot that lesson. Mr. White was a many-sided man who was always in debt, continually mortgaging the future with new business ventures, and we make no mistake when we call them ventures in those days. All his life he had many out- side interests, the grist mill, the coal business, the general store, the opera house, and in addition he was the sole owner and manager of a large gingham mill in Rockville from about 1870 up to the time of his death on May 10, 1891. He was the type of man needed for the development of our young and grow- ing country. In 1836, when twenty-two years of age, he made an engagement for employment with a man in Ware, Mass., but his prospective employer died suddenly just a few hours before he arrived. He thus found himself among strangers with only three dollars. By chance he heard of a prospective open- ing at Vernon Centre, Conn., and joined a drover who was taking a herd of cattle to Vernon, Conn., and by assisting the drover he "worked his passage" to Vernon Centre. He obtained work at his trade as a black- smith with Charles Lee of Vernon Centre, Conn., and remained there until sometime during 1838, the last year receiving for his services as a skilled workman, board, lodging and eighty cents per day. He was ambitious and now desired to start in business on his own account and planned to locate at Rock- ville, Conn., as that town began to give evidence of future growth, but there was one great stumbling block in the way. When asked as to his religious affiliations it devel- oped that White was a Methodist and the Congregational "powers that be" would have no Methodists in Rockville if they knew it. So at first he was unable to buy a site on which to locate his blacksmith shop. Jan. 1, 1839, Mr. White married Miss Sarah A. Grant, of. Ware, Mass., and from the record it would seem they returned to Vernon and lived there a short time. A little later he was able to purchase the blacksmith shop and business of Elizur S. Hurlbut, in Rockville, and with a cash capital of a little over $100.00 he was able to start in business on his own CYRUS WHITE, 1838 aCCOUnt. 24 years of age Both Mr. White and Mr. Corbin were ardent Methodists and years before they were associated in business they were interested in the establishment of a Methodist church in Rockville but religious prejudice was so strong that they were not able to purchase a site for a number of years. Their first church home was a small building on West Street ; later they bought the now Ger- man Lutheran Church on West Main Street. In 1867 they secured a satisfactory central site and built the brick structure of the present Methodist church. The denomination was not strong and to insure an income for its support the auditorium was located on the second floor with stores underneath so the stores on the ground floor carried as we would now say, "the overhead." Years afterward, White & Corbin deeded their interest in the entire property to the church as a gift. Mr. John N. Stickney became associated with Mr. White in the manufacture of car- riages and wagons and under the firm name of White & Stickney they carried on the business of carriage building and a general mill repair business. Mr. Stickney was born in Vassalboro, Maine, Jan. 17, 1818; came to Rockville in 1846 and died March 1, 1893, aged 75 years. J. N. STICKNEY About 3 5 years of age J. N. STICKNEY 74 years of age In July, 1849, Mr. Cyrus White bought for $1,700.00 a half interest in the foundry owned by Wm. R. Orcutt, Mr. J. N. Stickney buying the other half interest for a like amount. The inventory of the property outside of the real estate was $108.09. They also assumed notes and accounts payable of $1,446.27, making the entire amount of their investment $4,954.36. In 1850 a machine shop was added to the foundry. When Mr. Wm. R. Orcutt came to Rock- ville from Stafford, Conn., he brought with WM. R. ORCUTT, Who brought Milton G. Puffer to Rockville him an ingenious young man by the name of Milton G. Puffer, a pat- ternmaker and blacksmith by trade, who at once found employment with Cyrus White in his pattern and blacksmith shop and through this connection Rockville is indebted to Mr. Orcutt for its envelope industry. The envelope industry later furnished Mr. Orcutt with his wife, Miss Frances Skinner, who, after her marriage in 1849, operated one of the Puffer envelope machines, probably about the year 1853. In his early youth Mr. Orcutt wanted to borrow money from George Kel- logg, who represented the "powers that be" in the town, but Mr. Kellogg declined to lend him the money but instead de- livered him a lecture on the sin of running in debt. At the close of the lecture Miss Frances skinner Mr. Orcutt suggested to (Mrs. Wm-R. Orcutt) M ^ KeUogg that & man who gave unsolicited ad- vice was in his opinion a d — fool. Mr. Cyrus White afterward borrowed this saying and applied it to the bank president in New Haven to which reference is made later. In 1852 George Talcott, Cyrus White and L. A. Corbin entered into an agreement to go to Cali- fornia. Mr. White concluded, finally, not to go, but Corbin and Talcott went, though they did not remain there very long. MILTON G. PUFFER In 1853 When 35 years old MILTON G. PUFFER When 80 or 81 years old The making of envelopes by machinery was in the minds of many men and White and Stickney proposed that Mr. Puffer, who had shown inventive ability, build for them an envelope machine, he to own one-third interest ' and the firm the other two-thirds. When it was about two-thirds done his partners became dis- couraged at the slow prog- ress in its development, which caused friction and he left their employ and went to Windsor Locks, where he worked for Mr. H. Converse as a pattern maker, and work on the envelope machine at Rock- ville was for the time CYRUS WHITE 50 years of age being abandoned. 10 On Feb. 5, 1853, Mr. Puffer returned to Rockville from Windsor Locks, and finished the envelope machine — they operated it for a short time, and while it made envelopes after a fashion, it was not a mechanical success. With the experience gained in the construc- tion of this first machine Mr. Puffer saw that he could improve on his first machine which was finished early in 1853. He at once went to work on his second machine and as soon as he had completed it the first machine was consigned to the scrap heap and no one now living has any knowledge of what that first machine was like; all we know is that it was constructed on the rotary principle, which was the dream of every envelope machine inventor. (M. G. Puffer's letter to Mr. Logan, Dec. 14, 1903.) Soon after the second machine was started, late in 1854 or early in 1855, Mr. Stickney sold his interest to L. A. Corbin, and the firm name was changed to White & Corbin. The sales in 1855 were about $4,000, which was increased to about $8,000 in 1856. The firm of White & Stickney was in debt and when Mr. Corbin bought Mr. Stickney's interest, he simply took his place in the firm, assuming his portion cf the obligations and paid him $200 in cash. L. A. Corbin was born Sept. 18, 1822, in Dudley, Mass., and died at Rockville, Apr. 21, 1906, aged 83 years. He had the usual meagre schooling of the country youth. L. A. CORBIN 50 years of age When twenty years of age, his father having died, he left home, going to New York in search of work and a larger opportunity. Unable to obtain work in Albany, Troy, Water- town, and Glens Falls, he finally reached Warrens- burg, where he obtained work from a Mr. Warren who owned large timber acreage and who operated a saw mill and kept a general store. Here he worked for about a year. The working hours were from sun up to sun down, 4 a. m. till 9 p. m., and the wages $9.00 per month. At the end of a year he returned home and found employment as an apprentice stone cutter with his uncle, Sylvanus Wakefield, at SI 1.00 per month. He showed marked ability as a stone cutter, his wages being advanced from time to time till he received $1.25 per day. He followed this trade for a number of years, working on the great mills then in course of construction at Webster, Southbridge, Charlton and Oxford, Mass., and also at Thomp- son, Conn. In 1847 he went to Rockville, Conn., and was employed for a number of years in the L. A. CORBIN 11 years of age construction of the Rock Mill, American Mill and the Hockanum Mills, and other mills in nearby towns. While working on the con- struction of these mills he formed associations which finally drew him to Rockville for his permanent home. THE FIRST FACTORY, 1856 The main building shown in the cut where the walk goes to the second story is the original building erected by Cyrus White and occupied by White & Stickney for the manu- facture of carriages and wagons. This build- ing was made from the lumber of a church that was taken down at Windsor or East Windsor and was erected on land bought from Elizur Hurlbut. In addition to the carriage business they operated a grist mill and coal yard. The low building at the left is Murlless Foundry and is the original building owned by Cyrus White and occupied by White & Stick- ney. It was in this building where the original first and second envelope machines were built. To protect his invention, Mr. Puffer 13 applied for a patent on his envelope machine and in due course the patent was granted, No. 22,149, issued Nov. 23, 1858. the costs connected with procuring the patent being paid for by White & Corbin and the patent was assigned by Mr. Purler to White & Corbin for $500. While Mr. Puffer was at work on his first ma- chine, he became ac- quainted with the girl who was struggling to run it, and it was a struggle, Miss Mercy B. Rogers, of Monson, Mass., who after- ward became his wife and that proved to be the best dividend Mr. Puffer ever received from the envelope business. She died Sept. 1, 1894. Mrs. Puffer taught Miss Cynthia Root to operate the original second Puffer machine in 1854 or 1855. The working hours were frrm 6 a. m. to 6 p. m., with one hour for dinner. Later Miss Root became the in- structor, receiving 12^ cents per hour, $8.25 per week for 66 hours of ser- vice. Still later she was sent to New York to in- when about 35years of age struct the operatives in an envelope factory that was being started at CYNTHIA ROOT 25 Beekman Street. The name of the owners Miss Root does not now remember but it was probably Wm. P. Lyon & Co., to whom White & Corbin sold a number of their CYNTHIA ROOT her machine at Plimpton Mfg. Co. Di 82 years of age Dec. 15, 1915 machines. Miss Root is the last unbroken link between the distant past and the present. She operated the second Puffer machine in 1854, and up to 1916 operated an envelope machine at the Plimpton Mfg. Co. Division, Hartford, Conn., and when the machine next to hers was speeded up, notwithstanding her 82 years, she insisted that her machine should 15 also be brought up to the standard speed. She is still living quietly in Hartford, Conn. The second Puffer ma- chine was of the plunger type and this original machine is now in the museum of the United States Envelope Co., 75 Grove St., Worcester, Mass. The reason why this particular machine has not been destroyed was because of patent litigation in the early years of the industry, for then, as now, if a worth-while invention is made and patented there usually goes with CYNTHIA ROOT 1915, 82 years of age Photograph of model in Patent Office, Washington, D. C. Patent 22,149 16 it expensive patent litigation, for many there are who, while furnishing no original ideas themselves, are ever ready to appropriate the product of the brain of others. In July, 1856, White & Corbin was operat- ing three or four of the Purler type of plunger machines. Photograph of original second Puffer machine in museum of United States Envelope Co., 75 Grove Street, Worcester, Mass. White & Corbin built the Puffer machines principally for their own use but they also built machines for several New York envelope manufacturers, Wm. P. Lyon & Co., 25 Beek- man St., New York; Samuel Raynor & Co., New York; J. Q. Preble & Co., New York. The machines were built on wooden frames and cost about $200 each and were sold for $500 each. 17 These machines when first invented had a capacity of about 1300 envelopes per hour and it required three girls to operate two machines as the machines were not self- gummers. One girl could seal the blanks before folding for two machines, so that the product was about 900 envelopes per hour per operative. The old shop in which Puffer's experimental work was done and in which the first machine was operated on Main Street, Rockville, was where Murlless Foundry now stands. They never operated but one machine while in this building. The building was afterward sold to Knee & Murlless by White & Corbin who agreed to take their pay for the building in castings. White & Corbin also sold the blacksmith shop to Horace Treat and agreed to take their pay in work, for in those days no one had any real money. Trade was largely an exchange of goods and it was this barter that so wonderfully devel- oped the Yankee trading instinct. While Mr. Puffer was developing his two envelope machines, he had in 1881 when 51 years of age as an assistant Mr. John Pitney, who was born in Trowbridge, England, in 1830, and who came to this country in 1850, and found work as a blacksmith and machinist with Cyrus White in his blacksmith shop and foundry. 18 He remained with the company through its varying changes until the new plant was in operation at the Florence Mill. Some years after this he had a stroke of paralysis and died at Rockville, April 2, 1891, 61 years of age. The Second Factory, 1857, Brooklyn Street White & Corbin then began to make plans to go into the envelope business on a larger scale and in 1857 they began the construction of their second home, the new shop on Brook- lyn Street. This was a wooden building and was orig- inally 39 x 78, three stories with attic and ^basement, and cost about $8,000, the money for its construction being borrowed from the Charter Oak Life Insurance Co., of Hartford, Conn. The power was supplied by the old type wooden overshot water wheel. 19 The basement was used by White & Corbin as a machine shop in which the envelope machines were built. Half of the first story was used by Terry Thompson as a grist mill, the other half by Erastus McCollum for the manufacture of fulling mills and indigo grinders. One-half of the second story was used by E. K. Rose for winding silk, and from this humble beginning, I understand, has grown the great silk manufacturing company of Belding Bros. & Co. The other half of the second story was occupied by Clark Holt and Julius Rich, who were engaged in the business of winding and dressing cotton thread, and from that humble beginning Mr. Prescott advised me sprung both the Glasgow Thread Co. and Carlisle Thread Co. The third story was used by White & Corbin for the manu- facture of envelopes. In the attic was a box shop run by Edward Shelton and Wm. W. Andross (Shelton & Andross) who made paste- board boxes for the Silk Co., the Thread Co. and the Envelope Co. Turning back the pages of the past gives us a word picture of the day of smaller things; for this small building, originally 39 x 78 feet, three stories with basement and attic, con- taining about 15,000 sq. ft. of floor space, was occupied by five separate firms, three of which became prominent factors in making the Rockville that now is. Some years later 30 feet was added to the length of the building, making it 39 x 108. The cut shows the enlarged building which is still standing. 20 Shelton & Andross later (1862) began the manufacture of envelopes with four Reay machines in what was known as the Glasgow mill under the name of the Rockville En- velope Company. In 1864 they sold out the business to Mr. Elisha Morgan of Springfield, Mass., who had been the General Ticket Agent for the Con- necticut River R. R. Co., and who now associated with him in the new venture Mr. Chester W. Chapin of Springfield, President of the Boston & Albany R. R. Co., and other Springfield men. Soon after purchasing the Rockville En- velope Co. it was moved to Springfield, Mass., and the name was changed to E. Morgan & Co. It is now the Morgan Envelope Co. Div. of the United States Envelope Company. One of these original Reay machines, bought by Mr. Morgan from the Rockville Envelope Co., is now in the museum of the United States Envelope Co., 75 Grove Street, Wor- cester, Mass. After moving into the new Brooklyn Street building Mr. Puffer made some improvements on the mechanism of his machine and also made a double machine, i. e., two machines were combined. The machine had two folding boxes. It was, in fact, two machines mounted on the same frame. By this improvement the product of each operative was practically doubled, the product being now about 2,000 per hour for the double machines. It was when this improvement was made that the hours of labor were reduced from 12 21 to 11 hours a day. This machine still was not a self gummer. Other inventors were at work trying to produce' successful envelope machines and White & Corbin entered into an arrangement with Mr. F. C. Graves, a Hartford machinist, to build for them an envelope machine. He worked on the problem for some time but did not succeed in develop- ing a successful machine. In 1870 Mr. Graves began work for the Plimpton Mfg. Co. as a machinist and worked for them from 1870 to 1910, the last sixteen years as superintendent, and died Nov. 5, 1910, at the ripe age of 80 years, a splendid type of the Christian gentleman. In due time, 1866-7, the Berlin & Jones Co. of New York brought out the Waymouth's Envelope machine, a new machine (described in Red Envelope No. 7, Oct., 1916). This machine was called "the seal flap gumming and envelope folding machine." It did more and better work than the Puffer machine. White & Corbin bought one of the New York machines, prob- ably about 1873, and this almost broke Mr. Puffer's heart. When the Berlin & Jones (Waymouth's) machine was delivered at the White & Corbin factory, Mr. Puffer experienced great Jones machine sent from N.Y. difficulty in Operating it, This photowas taken many . i • . i •. • .1 , •, years after taking the position that it 22 Miss LIZZIE TURNER Who operated the Berl could not be operated successfully, so a girl was sent up from New York, who taught Miss Lizzie Turner to operate the machine and she demonstrated the fact that the machine was a success. This was a hard blow to Mr. Puffer who saw that his machine had been passed in the race. He said nothing, but taking his hat and coat left the factory, never to return. Thus we are given an object lesson of the tragedy of invention. After leaving the envelope business, Mr. Puffer returned to his old trade of pattern making and blacksmi thing. He was born in Brimfield, Mass., June 14, 1819, and lived to the ripe old age of 93 years, dying in Willi- mantic, Conn., July 18, 1912. Wm. H. Prescott was born in Loudon, N. H., Aug. 12, 1840, and died at Rockville, Conn., February 24, 1908, aged 67 years. When about ten years of age the family moved to Holyoke, Mass., then a small village where he at- tended the High School and worked mornings and evenings in the store of R. B. Johnson. At the age of 18 he left school and continued to work for Mr. Johnson until 1860 when he was 20 years of age. In August, 1860, he was engaged as bookkeeper by White & Corbin, envelope manufacturers, of Rock- ville, Conn., and remained with them as bookkeeper till 1865. WM. H. PRESCOTT 23 years of age 23 In July, 1865, Mr. Prescott formed a co- partnership with three other gentlemen, J. N. Stickney, who some years before had sold his interest in the White & Stickney Co. to Mr. L. A. Corbin, Mr. E. K. Rose, who had been in the silk winding business, and Mr. Linus B. Plimpton, employed at that time in Rockville as a clerk in the dry goods store of P. R. Moore, and under the firm name of Prescott-Plimpton & Co., they began the manufacture of envelopes at Hartford, but at the end of a year White & Corbin made Mr. Prescott so attractive an offer to return to Rockville and take an interest in the firm that he felt he must accept it, and in May, 1866, he sold his Hartford interest to his partner, Linus B. Plimpton, who then organized the Plimpton Mfg. Co. This firm started with Reay machines, at 178 Asylum Street, in Howard's building near the depot, and is now one of the Divisions of the United States Envelope Co. In these days of smaller things in industry the owners themselves worked in the shop doing anything that needed to be done, work- ing in the cutting room, packing room or office, as the case might be. On one such occasion when Mr. Corbin was working in the packing room he marked a case "Freight payed." Mr. Frank Keeney, who afterwards became bookkeeper, traveling salesman, and later, when the United States Envelope Co. was organized, Manager of the Division, called Mr. Corbin's attention to the fact that he had spelled paid wrong, whereupon Mr. Corbin said: "Young man, you know too 24 much to be around here, you go home," which he did. In the course of a few days Mr. Prescott, who was then manager, told Mr. Keeney to come back and keep out of Cor- bin's sight for a few days and it would be all right, and so it was. In 1877-78, White & Corbin fully equipped their factory on Brooklyn Street with Berlin & Jones self-gumming envelope machines, the product of which at that time was about 3,000 per hour. This was no larger product than was being obtained from the Purler double machines, but the co-called Berlin & Jones machines gummed the flaps and marked a great advance in the development of the industry. These machines were built exclusively for the Berlin & Jones Env. Co., who controlled the Waymouth patents. In 1871-1872, they were built by the Allen Manufacturing Co., of Norwich, Conn., who were afterwards suc- ceeded by Holmes & Ely, who in turn, in 1874, were succeeded by Lester & Wasley, but the machines were not put on the market until after Lester & Wasley were the builders. D. M. Lester and F. R. Wasley were both mechanics, who had worked for the Allen Mfg. Co. They greatly improved the Way- mouth machine by inventions of their own, which led to a new arrangement with the Berlin & Jones Env. Co., and this new and improved machine was put upon the market in 1879 under the name "Leader," which name was registered as a trade mark and has been in use since June 1, 1879, by Lester & Wasley. 25 In April, 1881, White & Corbin bought the Florence Woolen Mill building at Rock- ville and added a large equipment of "Leader" folding machines built by Lester & Wasley of Norwich, Conn. LESTER & WASLEY "LEADER' In 1885 White, Corbin & Co. was incorporated with Cyrus White, Presi- dent, Lewis A. Corbin, Vice President; and Wm. H. Prescott, Treasurer and Manager. This organization was continued till 1898 when White, Corbin & Co. be- came one of the subsidiaries WM. H. PRESCOTT 58 years of age of the United States Envelope Company, Mr. Prescott becoming a director of the Company and member of the Executive Committee, which position he held up to the time of his death in 1908. Before the Civil War the size of envelope mostly in use was what we now call No. 5 (3}/ 8 x 5K) the stock in the better grade was largely made by the Parsons Paper Co. of Holyoke, and the price of the paper in I860 was eighteen cents per pound, and the No. 5 envelopes sold for $2.25 per thousand. One of the largest dealers in the country before the war was a Mr. Leonard of Cam- bridgeport, Mass., who sold his goods through- out New England very largely by peddlers who delivered direct from their wagon. On one of his visits to Rockville he made Mr. White an offer of $2.00 per thousand for 500,000 which he had been buying for $2.25 and Mr. White told him he was insulted by such an offer, and he hoped he would never come to his office again — and he never did. In 1865, toward the close of the war, the price of Parsons paper, for which they had formerly paid eighteen cents, was advanced to forty-five cents per pound, the price of the No. 5 envelope being advanced to $4.80 per thousand. The price of a No. 10 official from Parson being $9.80 per thousand. Prior to 1860 the firm of White & Corbin never had a regular pay day. The custom was to enter the employee's name on their books at the agreed rate of wages per day or week and as the firm of White & Corbin also con- ducted a general store, they gave to their employees orders on the store for such goods as the store could supply. If they did not happen to have at their store what was wanted they would give an order on another store and between these different stores there was what was called a regular "dicker trade," i. e., an exchange of goods, one giving orders on the other, but very little cash was in circulation. When a workman reached the point that he must have some real money they would figure up his account and give him a note at three or six months for whatever balance might be due him and this note he would take to the bank and get discounted or he would get some local farmer or merchant to "shave" it for him. The merchant as well as the manufacturer often saw very little real money, trade being very largely a matter of exchange. Mr. White, who was the salesman of the company, would go from Rockville to Hartford or New Haven with a load of envelopes which he would trade at different stores for such articles as he could use at this store, so, often he would bring back sugar, flour, calico, shoes, hardware, etc., and all manner of dry goods and notions, but almost no cash. The parties with whom he exchanged his envelopes for other goods would in turn exchange the envelopes for goods which they could sell and that was the way in which busi- ness was very largely done. Many of the fac- tories in those early days used to distribute their product in this very primitive way. Mr. White was the salesman of the company; he 28 was very deaf, which was sometimes an advan- tage. It was said he could not hear a complaint no matter how loud one talked but they used to say he could hear an order if it was whis- pered. ■ His method was to send up to Hartford and New Haven by team what goods he thought he could dispose of, then take out a sample box, and with this sample under his arm, visit prospective customers. On one occasion he called upon the president of one of the banks of New Haven, who, after looking over the samples suggested to him that he did not think any reputable manufacturer now would like to be hawking his goods round in such a way. (The end of an era had been reached and new methods of merchandising were being evolved.) Mr. White drew himself up to his full height and replied with considerable dignity, that any man who offered free advice to a stranger unsolicited was in his opinion, a d — fool, and walked out of the bank. Cyrus White was the trav- eling salesman for the company. He was a frugal soul and practiced a virtue which the present genera- tion does not appreciate, as will be seen from the copy of one of his expense bills which we reproduce here for the benefit of present-day salesmen. CYRUS WHITE 75 years of age 29 Travelling Expenses Cyrus White May (the year is not given) 2, Rockville to Hartford, $0.50 2, Fare to Boston, 3.50 2, Supper .18 3, Three meals .75 4, Room rent 1.00 4, Breakfast .17 4, Fare to New York by boat 5.00 5, Breakfast .25 $11.35 Mr. White practiced frugal living and believed that all those associated with him in business should do the same and on one occasion, having noted the fact that the butcher stopped at Mr. Prescott's house twice during the week, to took him to task for his extravagance. The conversation as reported to me by Mr. Prescott ran something like this: " Henry, does the butcher stop at your house twice each week?" and when Mr. Prescott acknowledged that to be a fact, Mr. White's reply was, ' 'Humph, humph, I don't wonder you can't lay up any money — meat twice a week." In those early days paper was sent over the highway from Holyoke to Rockville, thirty miles, drawn by four-horse teams. It took two days for the round trip, the maximum load being eight cases, 4,000 pounds. The team would bring back the cutting waste and the cost for the round trip was $12.00, i.e., thirty cents per hundredweight. 30 We often hear men bewail the passing of those "Good old days of the past" as though they were better than the present, but with all its injustice, with all the ills of industrial- ism and commercialism, with all the inequali- ties in human conditions, God never gave His people anywhere on His footstool so good days as He is giving us in the United States. The persons who do this bewailing are not those who lived and worked in those "good old days." They are not the ones who passed through those experiences, or if they are, the facts are simply these: the great softener, Time, has been at work and one of the blessed things of life is this — that pain and discomfort are forgotten and we look back through the years and smile at things which were then hard to be borne. The finest thing about those "good old days" is that they have gone and gone forever. There came into my possession this month, January, 1921, the payroll of White, Corbin Co., from November, 1875, to October, 1880, and below is the record of wages paid in those "good old days," for 66 hours of work. From White, Corbin & Co. Pay Roll, July, 1880 Foreman machinist (Inventor) $3 . 00 Foreman cutter, 2 . 00 Foreman packing room, 2 . 00 Foreman printer, 2.25 31 ♦Miller, $2.25 Packer, 1.60 Packer, 1.50 Cutter (evidently learner), .85 ♦Miller, 1.50 Night Watchman, 1.25 Teamster, 1.50 Teamster, 1.25 Label Girl, 1.00 2 Handfolders ($1.00 each), 1.00 Girl picking up sealed blanks, .70 Girl picking up sealed blanks (1 earner) , .40 2 Boys in box shop .50 .75, .50 Girl in printing room, .70 4 Folding machine girls, each 1.00 2 Folding machine girls, each .90 1 Folding machine girl, .75 1 Folding machine girl, .70 1 Folding machine girl, .60 2 Folding machine girls, .50 1 Gum boy, .40 *In those days the White, Corbin Co. operated a Grist mill in connection with their envelope business. About the year 1882 Mr. Francis H. Richards, an eminent mechanical en- gineer of Hartford, Conn., who was born in New Hart- ford, Litchfield County, Conn., Oct. 20, 1850, com- menced work on an en- velope printing and folding machine along a new line of development. The prin- cipal patents on this machine were issued Jan. 20, 1891, but there were many detailed patents issued prior to that date. This machine was on such an entirely different principle from all other envelope machines that more than thirty patents were granted on it and one hundred and thirty-one new and original claims were allowed. The machines were built by Pratt & Whit- ney Co. of Hartford, Conn., and the patent rights for the United States were purchased by White & Corbin Co.. in 1887, while the patent was still in the patent office, the British patents being purchased by Waterlow & Co. of London, England. Only six machines were ever built for White, Corbin & Co. The White, Corbin Co. operated some of these machines until 1898 when ten of the leading envelope manufacturing companies in the United States were consolidated, thus forming the United States Envelope Com- pany. Soon after the consolidation was effected the use of the Richards machines was dis- continued as there were other machines owned by some of the companies consolidated which were now released for the common use of all the ten companies which could be operated more profitably. 33 DESCRIPTION OF THE RICHARDS ENVELOPE MACHINE For Printing, Folding, Counting and Banding Envelopes The Richards envelope machine for gum- ming, folding, printing, counting and banding envelopes was without doubt the most scien- tifically developed envelope machine of the nineteenth century. Distinctively original in design, heavily but well proportioned, built chiefly of steel forgings, tool steel and high- grade iron, it impressed one more as of the character of a machine tool or a turret lathe than as an envelope machine. The main frame or hollow square pedestal housed the principal driving cams. These cams were oiled by felt wicks having one end submerged in oil at the bottom of the pedestal, and the other end in position to wipe over the moving parts. An intermit- tently revolving picker turret, having four sets of spring cushioned pickers set 90 degrees apart, was centrally and vertically supported above the square pedestal. This turret in revolving, not only moved each set of pickers one quarter of the way around, but also imparted an up-and-down motion as well. The picker turret had four stops so that each set of pickers would in turn stop at the picker gumming, envelope gumming, creasing and printing, and folding turret stations. That is to say, when the picker turret was stationary, the front set of pickers was re- ceiving gum, the left set was gumming a blank, the rear set was holding a gummed blank during the process of creasing and printing, and the right set was transferring the gummed, creased and printed blank to the folding turret. The gumming station located at the front of the machine consisted of a circular platen which had an intermittent radial motion like the ink platen of a Golding Jobber. This platen was fed from an inverted bottle of gum which functioned much as an ordinary chicken feeder. The pickers were in contact with the gummed platen only when the platen was stationary, but as the pickers raised and started in their rotation toward the feed board station the platen was given a 35 radial motion so that the next pair of pickers would contact with the freshly gummed surface of the platen. The blank or feed board station consisted of an automatic elevator for the pil^ of cut blanks. This was so arranged that a constant top level was maintained at all times and a new supply of envelopes could be added to the bottom of the pile without interrupting the regular feeding of the blanks from the top of the pile. A blank picked from this continuous feed elevator was swung to the rear and into the jaws of what looked like a large punch press. The frames of this press supported the printing and creasing means. At this station a top and bottom platen both creased and printed the envelope as it still adhered. Meanwhile the blank was still held in suspension between the creasing and printing mechanism by means of the gummed pickers. The fourth stop of the pickers delivered the blank to a four-sided, horizontal, folding turret head, each side operating as a folding box but with end folders only, and as the four- sided folding cylinder revolved, the end flaps of the successive blanks were folded. In fact, the end folders really stripped the successive blanks from the horizontally swinging pickers. One revolution of the folding turret, by means of its cams, simultaneously folded the end flaps, bottom flap and top flap of the envelope. The top and bottom flaps were folded by bringing these laps successively into position to be acted upon by radially 36 swinging folders not mounted on the turret head but having an axis of rotation parallel to it. A shovel arm conveyed the completed envelope from the folding turret into the dryer chain which was supported from a pulley fastened to the ceiling. In this way the envelopes traveled from the machine to the ceiling over the pulley and back into the machine, giving the envelopes an un- usually long time in which to dry. The envelopes on leaving the chain were pushed one at a time into a housing or band- ing well. This was arranged automatically so that when twenty-five envelopes had been grouped in this banding well, the complete package was automatically forced through a completed band, this band having been sheared off from the end of a tube of folded material, that is, the band was formed by shearing off the end of a tube of paper which was of the right dimensions to form the band. In this way the machine actually gummed, printed, folded, counted and banded envel- opes. Notwithstanding the fact that this was really a wonderful machine mechanically, it did not prove to be commercially a com- plete success. The inventor of this machine had attacked the problem from an entirely new angle. The mechanical mind did not see why a machine could not be built which would perform all the functions which this machine attempted to accomplish and perhaps mechanically there was no good reason, but 37 with all the varying kinds of paper which it was called on to make into envelopes there were a number of very serious troubles in connection with the successful commercial operation of the machine. In the first place, when it became necessary to stop the machine the blanks would stick to the pickers. Bear in mind that this machine instead of gumming one blank at a time and then stripping it at once from the pickers and carrying it to the folding mechanism, had three blanks in suspension on the various pickers at once, and if the machine stopped, there were three blanks which in a very short time dried or stuck to the pickers. This made necessary the tearing off of the blanks and cleaning the pickers before the machine could be started again. Another very serious difficulty was the fact that the end flaps of the envelope were folded by four different sets of folders, and no matter how carefully these folders were adjusted, the envelopes coming from them showed that they had been folded by four different mechanisms and therefore they did not look as well in the box as envelopes folded on a plunger machine. They looked more like handfolded work. Furthermore, the banding mechanism was intricate and did not always work properly. The bands would sometimes give way, spilling a whole bunch of envelopes over the machine. In addition, the machine attempted to do altogether too much. It was a folding machine, printing press, counting and banding machine all in one. When anything went wrong with the folding part, it was of course necessary to stop the printing and the banding part. If the machine stopped on account of defects in printing, of course the folding and banding were stopped; and if anything went wrong with the banding, the printing and folding were stopped. In other words, the machine seemed to be a demonstration of the fact that it has not been wise to try to do too much in one mechanism. So far, experience has led us to believe that to produce the best work on envelopes it is better to print on one machine and fold on another. But the great objection was the fact that the envelopes could not be inspected at all. They came from the machine banded ready to be boxed and the product might be good, bad or indifferent, the machine operator was entirely unconscious of the quality of work being turned out. The machine although beautifully made was very complicated and it required a great deal of expert attendance, and this fact taken together with the other difficulties of the machine made it not so profitable to operate as other more simple machines which were now released and could be operated by all the ten companies in the consolidation, and so after ample demonstration that the more simple machines could produce goods at a lower cost, the use of these machines was discontinued. In the development of this machine Mr. Richards had as his "Lieut. 5 " a young man 39 from Athol, Mass., by name Harry F. L. Orcutt, whom he had "brought up in mechan- ics," who had worked with him on this ma- chine for seven years, and who had installed the machines at Rockville, and then went to England and installed the machines pur- chased by Waterlow & Company. He has since remained in England, connected with important engineering work. Mr. Richards, at the ripe age of seventy years, is still actively engaged in the development of special automatic machinery and other engineering prob- lems. He has been one of the most prolific inventors which this wonderful cen- tury of invention has pro- duced, standing second only to the great Edison. FRANCI8 H. RICHARDS In an article in The 191 ° Scientific American, June 5, 1915, there was given the record of the six men who had taken out the largest number of patents in the United States and they rank as below, up to that time. Thomas A. Edison, 977 Francis H. Richards, 847 Elihu Thomson, 617 Chas. E. Scribner, 437 Geo. Westinghouse, 340 Edward Weston, 299 40 Twice since the White, Corbin Co. became a division of the United States Envelope Co. additions have been made to the plant and today it is up to date in every respect. The original Florence Mill was simply the main building with engine room and wheel house at the left, as shown in the cut below. On June 11, 1882, a fire destroyed the entire upper story and bell tower, causing a loss bv fire and water of about $75,000.00 THE PRESENT HOME OF THE WHITE, CORBIN & CO. DIV. In every well ordered organization it matters not what it may be, three generations usually make up the working team. The middle generation which is bearing the burden which the older generation is laying down, while the men of the younger generation are preparing to carry the load which will soon be laid upon their shoulders. FRANK KEENEY 2 3 years of age When in 1898 Mr. Pres- cott severed his connection with the White, Corbin & Co. Div., of which he had been the manager for 32 years, and assumed his duties as a member of the executive committee of the United States Envelope Co., Mr. Frank Keeney was appointed manager. Rockville in 1850 of 16 he learned Mr. Keenev was born in Leaving school at the age the trade of wool sorting. Later he worked in New York City as a wool grader. He returned to Rockville and with his father and brother operated a hotel. In 1878, when 28 years of age, he entered the employ of White & Corbin, being successively bookkeeper, traveling salesman, and manager, continuing in this position until June 1, 1919, when he retired from active duty as manager, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. E. W. Burke who had been "second in command" since 1898 when the United States Envelope Co. was organized. FRANK KEENEY. 1921 Mr. E. W. Burke was born in Ellington, Conn., in 1868. In 1882 he obtained work in the packing room of the White, Corbin Co. 42 at $6.00 per week. By 1890 his pay had been advanced to $9.00 per week. He then became one of the office clerks and a little later one of their traveling salesmen, continuing in that capacity until 1910 when he was made assistant manager of the Division. E. W. BURKE 14 years of age 1882 E. W. BURKE 1921 E. H. WOODFORD 35 years of age In 1873, just before Mr. Puffer left the company, Mr. E. H. Woodford, who was born in Avon, Conn., 1849, was hired by Mr. Corbin and without being given any special work to do he was turned loose on the job to find his work. With the passing of the years he finally became the superintendent and 43 continued in that position till 1917, when he retired from the position he had so long held and was succeeded by Frederick W. Chap- man, who was born in Greenville, Conn., Jan. 10, 1866, and who began work for White, Corbin & Co. as a press feeder in the Print- ing Department April 15, 1881. He was made fore- man of the Printing De- partment in Nov., 1892, continuing in that posi- tion until he became super- intendent in Nov., 1917. E. H. WOODFORD 1921 F. W. CHAPMAN 17 years of age F. W. CHAPMAN 1921 Mr. Martin Laubscher, Assistant Manager of the Division, was born in Rockville, Oct. 20, 1863, and began work for the company Aug. 8, 1881, as general office clerk. The following year he was made bookkeeper and continued in that position until 1898, when, upon the organiza- - tion of the United States Envelope Co. he became the office manager, and in 1917 was made Assistant Manager of the Division. 20 years of age When the war with Spain broke out in 1898 Mr. Martin Laubscher was Captain and Mr. F. W. Chapman was 2nd Lieut, of C Company, First Conn. Volunteer Infantry, Rock- ville, Conn., which was mustered into the Federal Service May 4, 1898, being stationed at Portsmouth, N. H., and Camp Alger, Va., during their term of service, and at the close of the war they were mus- tered out Oct. 31, 1898. MARTIN LAUBSCHER 1921 Rockville City Hospital In January, 1908, Mr. Wm. H. Prescott conveyed to a Board of Trustees the sum of 45 ,000.00 for the Rockville City Hospital, William Henry Prescott Foundation. Since his death, February 24, 1908, through drives and bequests additional sums have been se- cured so that in the near future Mr. Pres- cott's dream of a hospital for Rockville will come true. Mr. Prescott's widow, son and daughter, interested in the same good work, purchased the Gainor Place on Prospect St., which they conveyed to the Board of Trustees as a site for the hospital. Branch Factory at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1866. White, Corbin, Bouve & Co. S. A. Grant & Co. W. E. Payne & Co. About 1866 White & Corbin, associated with Mr. Bouve and Mr. James Prescott (brother of Mr. William H. Prescott), estab- lished a branch envelope manufacturing plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, the machines being trans- ferred from the Rockville factory, Mr. James Prescott being the manager. Mr. Corbin later bought Mr. White's in- terest, and the firm was changed to S. A. Grant & Co., with Mr. Grant, a son-in-law of Mr. Corbin, in charge. Still later the firm was changed to W. E. Payne & Co., with Mr. Payne (another son-in-law of Mr. Cor- bin 's) in charge. White & Corbin finally acquired the plant, which was destroyed by fire in 1880, and 46 what machinery was salvaged was taken back to Rockville, Conn. The pioneers in the envelope industry have, with but few exceptions, joined the great majority and the boys of their generation are bearing the burden of today. In the closing paragraphs of this article we have shown how the burden was trans- ferred from the shoulders of one generation to their successors at the White, Corbin & Co. Division, all the Captains and Lieuten- ants being promoted from non-commissioned officers who had come up from the ranks. In 1898 we came to the end of an era in the envelope business at Rockville, when the White & Corbin Co., with nine other en- velope companies were, on Aug. 18, 1898, merged into the United States Envelope Company; but, as Rudyard Kipling would say, "that is another story" to be told later. The present mission of The Red Envelope is, so far as possible, simply to preserve the history of the beginnings of the envelope industry in the United States. JAMES [LOGAN, Ghsbbal Manages 47 The Hall-mark of Quality 31}tf 8Uft iEttolnp? October, 1921 Number 14 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In Hartford, Conn. by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER VII PLIMPTON MFG. CO. Div. 4 1887-1921 252-254-256 Pearl Street Hartford, Conn. Prescott, Plimpton & Co. 1865 L. B. Plimpton & Co. 1866 Plimpton Env. & Paper Co. Plimpton Mfg. Co. (Inc.) 1872 Plimpton Mfg. Co. Div. 1898 The firm of Prescott, Plimpton & Co., Hartford, Conn., was organized in 1865, and was composed of Mr. Wm. H. Prescott, who had been associated with White & Corbin of Rockville, Conn., since 1860. Mr. Linus B. Plimpton, who was born in Southbridge, Mass., June 28, 1829, and who had been a dry goods salesman for P. R. Moore, in Rockville, Conn., Mr. E. K. Rose, who had been engaged in the business of winding silk, Mr. John N. Stickney, who had for- merly been associated with Cyrus White in the en- velope business in Rock- ville, Conn., and who some years before had sold his interest to Lewis A. Corbin. They began doing busi- ness in the upper lofts of the Howard Building, on Asylum St., and they had the usual experiences of starting a new business. They had been operating about a year when, in 1866, White & Corbin made Mr. Prescott so attractive an offer to return to Rockville, Conn., and take an interest in the firm that he felt he must accept it, and in May, 1866, he sold his interest in the Hartford venture to one of his partners, Mr. Linus B. Plimpton. WM. H. PRESCOTT 23 years of age J. N. STICKNEY About 35 years of age L. B. PLIMPTON 1865. 36 years of age company, for nei- ther of the two other partners were expected to have anything other than a financial interest in the com- pany; but, with courage, Mr. Plimpton faced the future practically alone, reorganizing the company under the firm name of L. B. Plimpton & Co. Later the name of the com- pany was changed to the Plimpton Envelope & Paper Co., and still later, in 1872, the com- pany was incor- Mr. Plimpton, before em- barking in the envelope venture, had been working in a dry goods store in Rockville, Conn., and had no knowledge of the en- velope manufacturing busi- ness. He was to be the traveling salesman and when Mr. Prescott, who was the man with the practical knowledge of the business, withdrew, it greatly crippled the new HOWARD BUILDING Asylum St. in 1921, where Plimpton business was carried on 1865-1868 porated under the name of the Plimpton Manufacturing Co. In 1868 the business continuing to grow was moved from Howard Building on Asylum Street to a building on Ford Street. In January, 1877, a fire destroyed the Ford Street plant and what was salvaged from the fire was taken to the Batterson Building on Asylum Street (afterwards rebuilt and turned into the Hotel Garde). They continued to do business there until 1887, when the business having outgrown this plant, it was transferred to the building 252-254-256 Pearl Street, where they remained till 1921, when the extension of Ann Street compelled them to move to the factory on South Ann Street, corner of Jewell Street, which was formerly the home of the Hartford Mfg. Co., where NEW HOME OF THE PLIMPTON MFG. CO., 1921 CORNER SOUTH ANN AND JEWELL STS. the Government Stamped envelopes were made for so many years. Mr. F. C. Graves who was connected with the Plimpton Co. for 40 years came to the United States from Ireland in 1851, when 21 years of age. He worked as a machinist on various kinds of machines, from locomotives to sewing machines, and while working for Hoe & Co., New York, he worked on the first press built by them on which a news- paper could be printed on both sides without rehandling the paper. In April, 1863, he was called upon by Mr. Geo. H. Reay, with whom he had been acquainted for some years, who offered him a position to take his newly invented envelope machines as they were completed by the machine builders, Rau & Ankele, later Rau & Ekstine, and still later Martin Rau, and instal them in the different factories wherever they might be sold, and stay with them until they were in successful operation. In 1863-4-5 he made installations of the Reay machine at the White, Corbin & Co. factory at Rockville, Conn., also at the Rockville Envelope Co. (Shelton & Andros), Rockville, Conn., also in the factories of McSpedon & Baker, Henry Chamberlin, Berlin & Jones Env. Co., Samuel Raynor & Co., all of New York. In 1865 and 1866 he installed the machines at G. H. REAY When a young m; the Plimpton plant at Hartford, Conn. In 1866 he installed Reay machines at G. Henry Whitcomb Co.'s plant at Worcester and there he made the acquaintance of the Swift Brothers, out of which acquaintance there grew a lifelong friendship. L. B. Plimpton & Co. had bought in all 12 Reay envelope-folding machines and Mr. F. C. Graves, then in the employ of Geo. H. Reay of New York, had been sent to Hartford at different times to instal the additions to their equipment. After the plant was in successful operation he returned to New York. Later he worked at his trade as a machinist in Hartford and it was during this period, i. e., between 1866 and 1870, that White & Corbin employed him to build for them an envelope-folding machine (see Red Envel- ope XII, pp. 22), but he did not succeed in building a satisfactory machine and returned to his work as a machinist. In 1870 he began work at his trade as a machinist for the Plimp- ton Env. & Paper Co., and continued with them until his death, Nov. 5, 1910, at F c graves the ripe age Of 80 yearS, About 76 years of age F. C. GRAVES About 35 years of age after forty years of faithful and efficient ser- vice, during the last sixteen years of which he was superintendent of the plant. He was born in the county of Meath, Ireland, June 10, 1830. He learned the machinist's trade on locomotive and marine engines in the town of Drogheda, County of Meath, Ireland. It is an interesting fact that Geo. H. Reay was born in the same town in the north of Ireland in which Mr. Graves served his apprenticeship as a machinist (Drogheda). This, no doubt, was one of the bonds which drew them together. In the Red Envelope, No. V, p. 12, Mr. Reay is referred to as a young Englishman, but Mr. Reay's son, Raphael Martine Reay, told the "G. M." this was an error, as he was born in the north of Ireland. When Prescott, Plimp- ton & Co. started their plant in 1865, Miss Cyn- thia Root, who had been teaching the girls at the White & Corbin plant in Rockville, Conn., and at several factories in New York, to operate the Puffer and Reay machines, was employed to teach the operatives at Hartford and When about 3 5 years of age ^g COnneC tion Continued through a long life. She worked for the Plimpton Mfg. Co. regularly until Oct. 21, 1915, when at the age of almost eighty-two years she was retired on a pension to enjoy five years of quiet comfort while the CYNTHIA ROOT 1869 sun was slowly sinking in the west. She was offered retirement years before but she in- sisted on continuing her work, saying she would be very unhappy to be obliged to give up her work, so she was permitted to con- tinue and give such service as she felt able to give. iL 1 r ■ . f " ■ * is™ 1 ! # * _ ,jgl ^K "^w^ jA 1 CYNTHIA ROOT at her machine at Plimpton Mfg. Co. Di 82 years of age Dec. 15, 1915, She was born in East Glastonbury, Conn., Mar. 17, 1834, and died at Hartford, Conn., July 22, 1921, aged 87 years. Miss Root was almost the last link binding the distant past of the industry to the present and throughout her long life she was a willing, faithful worker. Mr. Graves wrote of her: "She was an inde- fatigable worker, always taking the first possible stroke of the machine when the power started in the morning and at the noon hour and always running her machine till the power was shut off at noon or night." When in 1915 the machine next to hers was speeded up, notwithstanding her almost 82 years, she insisted that her machine should also be brought to the new standard for speed. In 1869 Mr. Oliver Plimpton, brother of L. B. Plimpton, who was born in Southbridge, Mass., Oct. 2, 1818, be- came superintendent of the Plimpton plant, continuing in that position for twenty- five years, until 1894, when failing health compelled his retirement. He died in Hartford, Conn., Oct. 3, 1902, and was succeeded by Mr. F. C. Graves, who had been with the com- pany since 1870, and assis- tant to the superintendent for many years. In 1874 Hon. Marshall Jewell, of Hartford, Conn., was the Postmaster General and he induced the Plimpton Manufacturing Co. to bid on the contract for supplying the Govern- ment with stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers then held by George H. Reay (of New York City). The Plimpton Mfg. Co., being the lowest responsible bidders, were awarded the con- OLIVER PLIMPTON About 75 years of age THE FIRST HOME OF THE STAMPED ENVELOPE WORKS 26 High Street 12 tract. Realizing the size of the contract and their inadequate facilities they felt they must have assistance in carrying it out and arrange- ments were entered into with the Morgan Envelope Company, of Springfield, Mass., by which the two companies, while each conducted its regular commercial business as a separate corporation, joined forces in executing the contract with the Government which they held continuously against all bidders for the following thirty- two years, or until 1906. When the Plimpton Mfg. Co. secured the Stamped Envelope Contract they were fortu- nate in having in their employ, as Master Mechanic, Horace John Wickham, and recog- nizing Mr. Wickham's superior fitness for the position, the Plimpton Mfg. Co. placed him in charge of its mechanical and manu- facturing department. This gave him the opportunity for which he had been waiting and for which his long apprenticeship had fitted him. Mr. Wickham was born in Glastonbury, Conn., April 1, 1836. The first fourteen years of his life were spent in Glastonbury, after which the family moved to Manchester, Conn. His early educa- tion was only such as the common schools of the town could give him, but he improved his oppor- tunities to the limit. HORACE J. WICKHAM About 1875 13 Early in life he had shown that he had been given the mechanical instinct and at the age of seventeen years he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade with a Mr. Pratt, a manufacturer of clocks at Bristol, Conn. He mastered the trade with rapidity and thoroughness, simply following his natural mechanical bent. In 1856, at twenty years of age, he was a master of his craft, and becoming a full-fledged "journeyman" he journeyed to New Haven to enter the employ of the Whitney Arms Co. He was given a respon- sible position for one of his years, and re- mained with the company during most of the period of the Civil War, making many improvements in the art of gun making and becoming one of the foremen contractors in the works of the Whitney Arms Company, at New Haven. In 1864 he left New Haven to become Master Machinist in the United States Arsenal at Springfield, Mass. After the Civil War the demand for the manufacture of guns declined and Mr. Wickham, foreseeing the lack of opportunity for advancement along that line, returned to Manchester, Conn., and took a much needed rest, finally becoming foreman in a knitting factory in Manchester, Conn. In April, 1869, Mr. Wickham moved to Hartford, Conn., and became identified with the Plimpton Mfg. Co. and began what proved to be his life work, and from then until the day of his death, May 22, 1914, his life 14 was a part of the civic, mechanical and industrial life of the city. The Plimpton Mfg. Co. at that time were large manufacturers of commercial envelopes, besides manufacturing papeteries, writing tablets, school note books, and selling large quantities of ruled note papers, and in addi- tion were operating a general mercantile printing department and retail stationery store. A fire on the morning of Jan. 28, 1877, destroyed a large part of their plant, the loss being about $120,000.00, covered by $96,000.00 insurance. They fortunately saved their office, store room and their new envelope equipment which had but recently been %, REAY ENVELOPE-FOLDING MACHINE 15 installed. Their papeterie department, which had become a large and important branch of their business, together with all its machinery, was entirely destroyed. When the Plimpton Co. was awarded the contract for making Stamped Envelopes they were not able to procure machinery like that which had been used by the former con- tractors and so were obliged to fold their first stamped envelopes on Reay machines after the blanks had been printed and em- bossed on the Allen Rotary printing press, nicknamed ''The Jumper." ALLEN ROTARY PRINTING PRESS "The Jumper" Mr. Wickham was an ingenious mechanician and inventor and his problem was to invent and construct a machine that would do the work at one operation. He gave close study to his problem and was eminently successful in soon producing a machine in which the several processes of printing, embossing, gumming, folding and counting were com- bined. These machines were continually being improved and, from about 1876 to 1906, Drawing filed with application for patent on Envelope-Folding Machine by Horace John Wickham. Patent No. 177,048. May 2, 1876 30 years, practically all the government stamped envelopes and stamped newspaper wrappers were made on machines of which Mr. Wickham was the principal inventor, the machines being built under his personal supervision, and were exclusively controlled 17 jointly by the Plimpton Mfg. Co. and the Morgan Envelope Co. Mr. Wickham was granted by the United States Government about 40 patents for improvements in envel- ope-making machinery. Before completing the envelope machine he began work on a new machine for making Photograph of model of Horace John Wickham's Envelope-Folding Machine in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C. Patent No. 177,048. May 2, 1876 the stamped newspaper wrappers and soon had a machine which completely revolu- tionized the operations of manufacture in this line of goods. He severed his active connection with the Plimpton Mfg. Co. in 1898 and for the 18 remaining years of his life devoted his time to a well-earned leisure and to his other large interests. In 1883-1884 he served the city of Hartford as a member of the City Council from the First Ward. Horace John Wickham Envelope Printing and Folding Machine Front View He died May 22, 1914, aged 78 years. Mr. Wickham was often urged to write his recollections of his busy life and finally con- sented to do so. The following extracts are taken directly from the data which he had commenced to set down. 19 Horace John Wickham Envelope Printing and Folding Machine Side View "After I became associated with the Plimpton Mfg. Co. at Hartford in the manu- facture of envelopes, the company secured the contract to make the stamped envelopes for the United States Government, but it did not have machines enough to meet the terms of the contract. What machines the company did own could not produce envelopes fast enough or in sufficient quantities and the machines did not gum the flaps of the envel- opes, and the cost of production was too great. "The company tried to buy more envelope machines, but the owner of the patent refused to sell more of his machines. The company managed to purchase a few old machines but still it could not fulfill the contract. "I saw that something would have to be done to increase the output and to greatly lessen the cost of production, so I began 20 studying the problem of devising an entirely new machine for making envelopes. After some time I perfected the machinery that would accomplish more than had before been dreamed of. When I was inventing this machine I did not know one day from another. I had to be told when Sunday came and I had to work seven days a week with the great problem on my mind. "I will tell you more about this tomorrow, after I have had time to think it over a little." And on the to- morrow Mr. Wick- ham was dead and so his recollections were never com- pleted. HORACE JOHN WICKHAM Late in life CLARENCE HORACE WICKHAM 1876. 16 years of age CLARENCE HORACE WICKHAM 1898. 3 8 years of age 21 During the many years Mr. Wickham was associated with the Plimpton Mfg. Co. in the Stamped Envelope business, his son, Mr. Clarence Horace Wickham, was his assistant. Another man who rendered conspicuous service to the Plimpton Co. in machine con- struction was Edward Pittman, who was born in Germany, June 19, 1842, in the city of Dulmen, Westphalia, Prussia. He came to the United States in 1864, when 22 years of age in order to avoid military duty in Germany. While in Germany he learned the trade of a machinist and toolmaker so thoroughly that when he landed in this country he found no trouble in getting employment even though at the time the country was in the midst of the Civil War. The Singer Sewing ma- edward pittman chine was the first piece of machinery to receive his attention and he gave to that machine three years of his inventive genius while living in Newark, N.J. He then worked for a short time as a machinist in Brooklyn, making machinery for the manu- facture of the then fashionable hoop-skirt. Next he worked as foreman for the Chamber- lins on Beekman Street, New York City, in the construction of envelope machinery, where he remained for about three years. 22 Desiring to work for himself and with his knowledge of sewing machines, he started as a sewing machine agent, selling, repairing and exchanging sewing machines in one of the suburban towns on Long Island. It was slow business and net to his liking, for he was not a merchant but a mechanic, and he learned what many other men have learned, that to be sure of his pay envelope at the end of each week or month was quite a different thing from conducting his own business. So he began to look through the want columns of the New York papers for a chance to make a change, finally answering an "ad" by a Hartford party who wanted to get a man to complete an envelope machine. Having had some experience on envelope machinery as foreman for the Chamber lins, this opening appealed to him. The result was he came to Hartford, Conn., was employed by the Plimpton Mfg. Co., and was the principal assistant to Mr. Wick- ham in the construction of his envelope machine for making stamped envelopes with printed corner card. While the work of inventing and constructing these machines was under way, Mr. Wickham was giving his time exclusively to the Stamped Envelope Works, being entirely relieved of his respon- sibility with the Plimpton Mfg. Co., but the connection between the Plimpton Mfg. Co., Morgan Envelope Co. and the Stamped Envelope Works was so close that any machinist who was needed by the Stamped Envelope Co. was drafted for service at the new plant. 23 On May 2, 1876, Mr. Wickham's patent No. 177,048 was granted and his machine was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in the same year. This machine with its many improvements enabled the company to hold the Government contract for a long series of years. Edward Pittman Envelope-Folding Machine Patent No. 235,453. Dec. 14, 1880 Front View Mr. Pittman, who was still working for the Plimpton Mfg. Co., made them a proposition to build another envelope machine for regular commercial work, which proposition was accepted and in due time the machine was constructed and the factory fully equipped with these machines. Dec. 14, 1880, the patent No. 235,453 was granted but too late for Mr. Pittman to receive it, as he died of typhoid fever Aug. 18, 1880, in his 38th year. In 1895 a new corporation was formed, The Hartford Mfg. Co., to take over from the Plimpton Mfg. Co. and the Morgan Envelope Co. the stamped envelope and stamped newspaper contract with the United States government. The following were elected officers of the new corporation: L. B. PLIMPTON 1898 ELISHA MORGAN 1898 MARO S. CHAPMAN 1898 HARTFORD MFG. CO. President, Linus B. Plimpton Treasurer, Elisha Morgan Secretary and Treasurer, Maro S. Chapman 25 Mr. Frederick Plimpton, nephew of L. B. Plimpton, was born in Putnam, Conn., Jan. 7, 1848. He was educated in the public schools of Putnam, and after a course of study at Eastman's Business Col- lege, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in the spring of 1873, he commenced working for Frederick plimpton the Plimpton Mfg. Co., 1898 later becoming Secretary, and still later Treasurer of the Company. On the organization of the United States Envelope Co. in 1898, he became Assistant Treasurer, serving until Sept. 1, 1901. He died in Milwaukee, Wis., in August, 1907. During the long years of service which Mr. Graves gave to the Plimpton Mfg. Co., he had as one of his principal assistants Mr. R. H. Roberts, who on the death of Mr. Graves in 1910 was appointed super- intendent, continuing in that position until retired in 1920, after 36 years of service. He is now enjoy- ing the evening of life in Los Angeles, California. The "G. M." wrote Mr. Roberts early in 1921 to learn something of his early life and 26 R. H. ROBERTS 1891 40 years of age experience, and his letter is such an interesting human document that it is herewith repro- duced : "Los Angeles, Cal., 1921. "My dear Mr. Logan: "I was born September 1, 1851, in a straw- thatched cottage at a small seaport town called Llanelly on the south coast of Wales. "May 1, 1853, we moved a few miles to a place called Carnarvon, a great town for making tinned plates, the tin being secured from Cornwall, England, and the plates rolled and plated at this place. "July 29, 1857, found us in the coal mining village of Llansamlet, Glamorganshire. This is where I first went to school. We lived here five years, then moved to Cardiff, a seaport town on the Bristol Channel — this was on December 14, 1863. "My mother died on April 3, 1865, at which time I was taken from school and worked as an office boy for seven months. I had been longing to go to sea, and to sea I went, sailing from my home town in September, 1866. "I do not think there is any place where a greenhorn can show helplessness more than on board a ship, and I was one, but I remember well the Strait of Gibraltar and Pharoah's Lighthouse, the City of Alexandria, the strange looking sail boats, the Arabs, Pom- pey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needles, one of which was standing. 27 "We returned to Liverpool. It was winter and the stormy Irish Sea made me long for home, and when I arrived I worked in the same office as heretofore, but it had no charm for me, and within a year's time I was again on a ship going to Montevideo (Uruguay), then around the Cape Horn to Callao (Peru) and loaded guano in the Chinchi Islands. On the return trip when near Cape Horn during a heavy storm we ran into an iceberg and we had a narrow escape from Davy Jones' locker. We drifted clear with our bow smashed and tons of ice on our deck. It was a close call! We put back for Valparaiso (Chile), did repairs there; we remained four weeks to refit and then started off on our home run. After eighteen weeks we arrived in Queenstown, Ireland, winter time and short of provisions. Here we received our orders for our port of discharge, which was Hull, England, around the wild coast of the English Channel, through the North Sea with head winds. We spent three weeks getting to Hull; our cargo was discharged and we reloaded with railway iron and chartered for Quebec, going around the north of Scotland past John 0' Groat's house, through the Pentland Firth, and in one month's time we sailed up the wonderful Gulf and River of Saint Lawrence. "Before we sailed again I had a fall which nearly ended my existence, and when I regained consciousness my ship was far away, and I was left in a hospital. It was some months before I was able to do any- thing. Winter coming on — I was hired on 28 a ship bound for Buenos Aires (Argentina, S. A.). The crew were all rough-necks, quarreling and fighting; I had a delightful time.(?) These men were discharged in Buenos Aires. Leaving there, we sailed back to Quebec and it took nearly all the money I earned in the eight months to pay for my expenses of the previous summer. "I shipped on board a vessel going to Bristol, England, where I arrived August 20, 1870, stayed at home with my folks for a couple of weeks, then sailed for Quebec once again. "We returned to Cardiff by December 14, 1870, the ship remaining in dock that winter, I living on board. We again sailed for Quebec April 5, 1871. "During the winter, thinking matters over, I came to the conclusion that a seafaring life was not going to bring me anywhere. I considered that when I arrived in Quebec I would leave the ship and try my chances ashore. The Captain allowed me to do so, giving me references; so on arriving at Que- bec I took the steamer, getting to Montreal early in the morning. "After breakfast, when I was cleaned up, I took a walk up Notre Dame Street and soon noticed a sign in a window 'Help Wanted.' I went in and found work at once, which was 8 A. M. I had to get up at five o'clock, clean a horse and stable, get break- fast and open the store by seven. They closed at 9 P. M. This lasted until Christmas, 1871. Leaving there, I went to upper Canada 29 RICHARD HENRY ROBERTS 69 years of age (Supt. from 1910 to 1920, now residing in Los Angeles) once again on to a man who was ac- quainted with my father in the old country. Here I worked in a saw mill until spring, when one day I cut my left hand very badly, which laid me up for some time. In the meantime I was offered work again by the man I worked for in Montreal, to go to work in a store in Quebec. This I accepted and worked for him until Christmas, when I was the march. "I came to Montreal and went to work as a helper in a chair factory. At that time I decided I would try to get a place to learn machine shop work and I succeeded in getting a place in the John McDougal Machine Shop — this was in May, 1873. I wriggled through the depression in 76 and following year. I worked in the machine shop for eight years. "I left Montreal, getting employment in the Hartford Engineering Company. This plant went out of existence and I was dis- charged in December, 1882. Trade was very dull in Hartford at that time, but after being idle for several months I went to work with the Plimpton Mfg. Co., Asylum Street, Hartford. This was in March, 1884, and I have never worked anywhere else since. "(Signed) R. H. Roberts." 1872 1921 JAMES M. PLIMPTON, Manager As he iooks now and as he looked when he began the envelope business When in 1898 the Plimpton Mfg. Co. became one of the subsidiary divisions of the United States Envelope Co., Mr. Linus B. Plimpton was appointed Manager and James M. Plimpton, who had been with the company since 1872, was made the Assistant Manager, and later, on the death of Mr. L. B. Plimpton, Feb. 16, 1904, he was made Manager. 1879 1921 HARRY J. WOOD, Asst. Manager he looks now and as he looked when he began the envelope business 31 Mr. H.J. Wood, who was born in Worcester, Mass., Nov. 1, 1859, and who had been with the Company since 1879, was made Assistant Manager, December 3, 1904. Mr. H. Chapman Swain, who was born in North- East Harbor, Nova Scotia, on March 12, 1890, and who had been with the Morgan Envelope Co. Div. of the United States En- velope Company since Oc- tober, 1909, was appointed Assistant Superintendent under Mr. Roberts and has recently been appointed Superintendent. While this copy of the Red Envelope is being prepared the machinery and equip- ment is being transferred from the Pearl Street plant to the new home of the company on the corner of South Ann and Jewell Streets, fronting on Bushnell Park, one of the beauty spots of New England (see page 6) . JAMES LOGAN, General, Manaoer. H. CHAPMAN SWAIN Supt. 32 The Hall-mark of Quality Stye Sri> Enfolnp? January, 1922 Number 15 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In New York City by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER VIII. WOOLWORTH & GRAHAM New York City In July, 1916, the "G. M." had a conference with Mr. C. C. Woolworth of the firm of Woolworth & Graham, who commenced business in New York City as paper dealers in 1862 and did a large jobbing paper business in the years following. From 1868 to 1874 Mr. Woolworth was also in the school book publishing business in Boston (Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co.), and was one of the leaders in that department of business. Later Woolworth & Graham developed for the period a large export business in American papers. I asked Mr. Woolworth to turn back the pages in his book of memory and jot down his recollections of the conditions in those days of smaller things, and he has given me a most interesting story which I here reproduce, feeling sure it will have an interest for the readers of The Red Envelope : "181 West 75th St., "New York City, July 14, 1916. "James Logan, General Manager, "United States Envelope Company, "Worcester, Mass. "My dear Mr. Logan: "I was born in Homer, Cortland County, New York, Sept. 5, 1833. In 1848, when fifteen years of age, I left home and went to Buffalo, N. Y., where I worked in Danforth's Book Store which was located near Phinney & Co.'s, who were large book publishers, who had recently moved to Buffalo from Coopers- town, New York. In 1850 I began as a clerk in Hall, Mills & Co.'s Book Store, in Syracuse, and later became a member of the firm. We received imported stationery from J. K. Herrick & Co. of New York, which firm was connected with Thomas Rhodes & Sons, London, England, and the New York house (i. e. Herrick), included in one of their ship- ments to us some buff colored envelopes (what we would now call Manilla) quite like the sample pasted into No. 3 issue of The Red En- velope. They were put up in wrapping paper packages but there was no market for com- mercial use in Syracuse at that time and they were looked upon more as a novelty and curiosity. "In 1852, when nineteen years of age, I withdrew from the firm of Hall, Mills & Co., and commenced as a clerk with A. S. Barnes & Co., New York, Publishers and Wholesale Stationers, who later bought envelopes com- mercially of Hartshorn & Trumbull, Wor- cester, Mass. (now the W. H. Hill Env. Co. Div. of the United States Env. Co.), and among Barnes' customers was the firm of D. B. Cook & Co., of Chicago, 111., who made envelopes by hand on a small scale — that was in the early days of Chicago. "In 1856, when twenty-three years of age, I commenced to be my own employer at Omaha, Neb., which then had a population of about 1,200, the Indian land titles having been vacated the preceding year. There were only a few hundred white settlers west of Omaha till you reached Salt Lake City, Utah. The white population of Nebraska, then including both Dakotas, was only about 3,000; Kansas City had less than 2,000 — now with its environs it has about 500,000; Chicago had less than 100,000 population (estimated at that time 84,113). "The population of Chicago, 111., in 1850, was 29,963; in 1860, 109,260; in 1910, 2,185,283; in 1920, 2,701,212 (World Almanac, 1921). "From my Omaha foundation grew the branch stores at St. Joseph, Mo. (there our firm was Davis & Woolworth, Mr. Davis being the postmaster), Atchison, Kansas, and in 1859, Denver, Colo., where the Woolworth & Moffat enterprises outgrew all others (our activities were not confined to books and H?o--y-vm~ C. C. WOOLWORTH STORE AND HOME IN OMAHA, NEB., 1856 16 x 20, at $25.00 per month rent stationery). When we opened up in Denver, Mr. Moffat, my partner, then a young man of twenty years of age, brought over the plains four wagon loads of books, stationery and other goods from Omaha, Neb., having driven one of the teams all the way himself, and was about forty days en route, reaching Denver, March 18, 1860. "When I was living in St. Joseph, Mo., I saw the first pony express start across the plains. I think it stopped at Sacramento or Colfax, California, the railroad having reached that point from San Francisco. "There was hot competition in delivering mails to California between the overland route and the sea route via Panama. My partner, W. A. Davis, Postmaster at St. Joseph, Mo., joined in the contest, went to Hannibal, Mo., over the Hannibal & St. Joseph R. R., then recently completed, and established arrange- ments for sorting the mail on the train for delivery to the stage lines immediately on its arrival at St. Joseph instead of as formerly sending the mail to the St. Joseph post office for sorting, and that was the beginning of the railway mail service. ' ' While never connected with the envelope business, a brief reference to David H. Moffat, Mr. Woolworth's partner, will not be out of place here and will certainly be of interest to readers of The Red Envelope, illustrating, as it does, the adventurous spirit of a boy of twenty years of age in those stirring times when a nation was being born. I quote from a letter from Mr. Woolworth dated Nov. 6, 1921, supplemented by a letter from Mr. C. J. Lane, General Freight Agent of the Union Pacific Railroad System, Omaha, Neb., Nov. 22, 1921, obtained for me through the courtesy of Carl R. Gray, President of the Union Pacific Railroad System: "Moffat was born in Washington ville, Orange County, N. Y., July 22, 1839 (of Scotch-Irish parentage). When twelve years of age he went to New York City and soon found work as a messenger in the Exchange Bank which later became, as it now is, the Irving National Bank, and when seventeen years of age he held the position of teller. In 1855 or 56 he went west and entered the banking house of Allen, Stevens & Co., Des Moines, la. "His brother, 'Sam' Moffat, was cashier and 'Dave' became his assistant, being book- keeper, paying teller, receiving teller, janitor and handy man generally. "Soon after reaching Des Moines, la., Mr. Benj. F. Allen, a prominent capitalist of that city, established at Omaha, Neb. (the Bank of Nebraska), in 1855 or 1856. "With 'Sam' Moffat as cashier and 'Dave' as his assistant, 'Dave' slept in the bank as I did in the store a few feet east. On Sam's retirement and his return east, 'Dave' suc- ceeded him as cashier. "The Bank was in a one-story brick build- ing on the south side of Farnham St., opposite what was afterward known as the Pioneer Block. The Bank was in one of the only three or four brick buildings in Omaha, where there were not enough buildings of any kind to form the outline of a street location. The Bank was two or three blocks east of the present location of the First National Bank and a little west of opposite the old Herndon House, afterward headquarters of the Union Pacific Railway. 'Dave' continued as cashier till 1859. "During these strenuous years this banking house upheld the gold standard through the disastrous wildcat currency experiences of the late 50's. In 1858 Allen, Stevens & Co. sold their interests and retired from business. "Their successors, following the trend of the times, sent a lot of wildcat currency to young Moffat at Omaha to put in circulation. This he declined to do, returning the currency accompanied with his resignation as cashier. "Having burned his bridges, he then went down to St. Joseph, Mo., to talk matters over with Mr. Woolworth, with whom he had become acquainted. "After discussing with him his Omaha experiences I said, 'Dave, how would it do to start our business in Denver?' He promptly answered, 'All right, I'm ready,' and as quickly as I can write it our agreement to that end was concluded. Our friendship continued uninterruptedly and very friendly till his death in New York, March 18, 1911. "Moffat up to this time had never had any experience in merchandising — knew nothing about prices, etc., and the following story shows he was an apt scholar and that he didn't need any advice and besides he was too far away, especially in winter, to get any if he did need it. "One of his first experiences in Denver was with a customer who wanted to buy a quart of Arnold's ink and Moffat quoted him $12.00 per quart, at which the customer demurred but Moffat, with a rather mild reservation, said, 'that is a fair price and if I go out to buy anything here I have to pay what seems to me a big price, besides, if I ask less you will buy all I've got and you will double your price to the next customer and no more ink can come in till the winter is over' — so the price was paid. "The Post Office was Established in our store and Mr. Moffat acted as the Post Master; and the men lined up in front of our store, shown in the illustration below, are waiting for their turn at the window for their mail. WOOLWORTH & MOFFAT SECOND STORE IN DENVER, COLO. This was the second building we occupied in Denver, Colo. The first building was much more primitive. "We established a branch in the Bannock Mines, now Helena, Mont. As railroads opened up through the country competition made merchandising less attractive and we gradually withdrew. Moffat remained at Denver and in the late 60's he became inter- ested in railroad development and eventually became the leading mining, banking and railroad capitalist of Colorado." Mr. C. J. Lane, of Omaha, Neb., suggested the following detail: "The then Denver Pacific Ry. was in- corporated in Nov., 1867, and completed to Cheyenne, Wyo., on June 23, 1870. "The Kansas City-Denver line was com- pleted in August of the same year. "The Colorado Central Ry., which con- nected Denver with Golden City, was com- pleted in Oct., 1870. "The Denver & Rio Grande R. R. was opened to Colorado Springs for freight and passenger traffic Oct. 23, 1871. "The Florence & Cripple Creek Ry. was completed in 1894, which was the first line into the gold camp. "With all or most of the above Mr. Moffat was directly or indirectly connected. The prominent part Mr. Moffat played in finan- cing the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Ry. (now the Denver & Salt Lake R. R.) is of too recent record to need mentioning. "Mr. Moffat was organizer of the company that built the railroad from Denver to Chey- enne, connecting with the Union Pacific R. R., and in 1870 a locomotive, christened David li H. Moffat, steamed into Denver, thus putting the town on the map. "He also built the Denver and South Park R. R., 150 miles long to Leadville, as well as the railroad from Del Norte to Creede, and also the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad. In 1885 he was made the President of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad but resigned in 1891. He was sixty- three years old when he planned the Moffat road (now the Denver & Salt Lake R. R.). He died in New York March 18, 1911, aged seventy-two years. "Mr. Moffat was Adjutant General of Colorado in 1864, when twenty-five years of age. "He was the first cashier of the First National Bank in Denver in 1867. "He terminated his connection with Mr. Wool worth in 1870 and then, associated with Gov. John Evans, he turned his attention to railway construction, beginning with the Denver & Pacific R. R. referred to above. "He was the territorial treasurer of Colorado in 1874 and still later was associated with Gov. Evans in building the Denver and South Platte Railway." The medium of exchange in those days was gold dust taken at a figure that would leave a further profit when sold to the government for coining. Mr. C. J. Lane of Omaha, Neb., to whom I am indebted for much of this de- tail regarding Mr. Moffat's connection with the development of Colorado, says he has 12 drawn freely from the biography of Mr. Moffat in Smiley's history of Colorado, published in 1913, vol. 2, page 457. "Here he (Moffat) found the rugged little village of log houses and a pioneer settlement of several thousand people, principally miners and prospectors whose rendezvous at the junction of Cherry Creek and the Platte became the foundation of the Denver of today. The Denver Town Company was incorporated in 1858 and the first schoolhouse was built at Boulder, Colo., in 1860." (Mr. Woolworth now continues:) "I returned east, organized the firm of Woolworth & Graham in 1862, and until its retirement a few years ago (1907) it was the oldest unchanged name in the paper business in New York. "My partner, Mr. John S. Graham, was born in New York City, Feb. 12, 1837. Like myself, Mr. Graham had served an ap- prenticeship as salesman and buyer with A. S. Barnes & Co., publishers and wholesale stationers, in New York City. "Their business also in- cluded the selling of envelopes and it was this fact which turned our attention to their manu- facture. "When we commenced in the envelope business we first bought paper mainly from 13 Calvin C. Woolworth 1870 3 7 years of age the Parsons Paper Co., Holyoke, Mass., and had it made into envelopes by White & Corbin, Rockville, Conn., and McSpedon & Baker, afterwards McSpe- don & Robbins, of New York City. "McSpedon & Robbins operated six Cotton en- velope folding machines which Wool worth & Gra- 31 yea rVof age ham finally bought in 1866 and operated the factory at 51 Ann St. with an office and salesroom on John St. John S. Grahar 1868 Photograph of Patent Office Model of W. W. Cotton Envelope Folding Machine 14,625. April 8,1856 14 "My first recollections of the envelope in- dustry in New York on an important scale was that of J. Q. Preble and Lyon & Raynor. Preble had come from Worcester, Mass., where as a manufacturing stationer he had made a success with embossed note paper and embossed envelopes to match, a novelty for ladies' use. This was long before half-sheet writing papers were introduced. "Samuel Raynor had a successful book and stationery store at 76 Bowery, where the east side was an attractive residence section down to the East River. He was a man of the high- est character for integrity and had the un- limited confidence of all who knew him. After a few years of life the firm of Lyon and Raynor dissolved and Raynor moved from the former Beekman Street location to William Street and John Street, continuing there until his death and the business succession you are probably familiar with. "Samuel Raynor was the kind of a man whose character could secure a million of J. Pierpont Morgan's money, if he hadn't a dollar of his own. "My recollection about envelope machines, the Cotton, Duff & Keating, Puffer, White & Corbin, Reay, are that the Puffer machine made fine goods but probably the Reay was the fastest machine. I believe Duff & Keating built the Cotton machines. Cotton was the foreman in the factory of Samuel Raynor.* *The development of the fir;n of Samuel Raynor & Co. will form a chapter in a future number of the Red Envelope. "The government stamped envelope is a part of the early history of envelopes. Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. had the first contract and for many years to 1870. The paper was made by Seymour Paper Co., Windsor Locks, Conn. "Nesbitt & Co. were stationers in Pearl or Water St., near to Wall, for many years. I think Reay was the successor to the Nesbitt contract. "Yours truly, "C. C. WOOLWORTH." In 1874, after losing the government con- tract for making stamped envelopes, Geo. H. Reay, on Nov. 10, assigned, John S. Graham, of Wool worth & Graham, being appointed receiver. The conditions finally accepted on Jan. 22, 1875, by Mr. Reay's creditors was 50% in full settlement and the business was turned over to Reay* to operate; but Mr. Graham, as Receiver, was not released until Oct. 23, 1875. In the 60's Woolworth & Graham were the . Treasurer and Manager of the Sales Department of the Estabrook Steel Pen Co. The Estabrooks, father and son, English Quakers, came to this country and began their competition with Joseph Gillot Steel Pen manufacturers of England, and after a long, hard, struggle they were finally success- ful in securing the American market. *The story of Geo. H. Reay and his great contribution to the envelope industry will be treated fully in a future number of the Red Envelope. 16 While not an envelope proposition, yet closely connected with it, we note as an inter- esting fact that C. C. Wool worth secured the contract for making postal cards for the U. S. Government, running from July 1, 1881, to July 1, 1885, the price being $0.5443 per M. cards. He developed machinery which took the paper in the roll, printed, cut, counted and banded them in packages of twenty-five cards. The second contract, running from July 1, 1885, to July 1, 1889, was awarded to C. C. Woolworth of New York, at $0.4771 per M. The third contract, from July 1, 1889, to Dec. 1, 1893, was awarded to Albert Dagget, Bir- mingham, Ct., at $0.3500 per M. The fourth contract, from Jan. 1, 1894, to Dec. 31, 1899, was awarded to C. C. Woolworth, of Castleton, New York, at $0.3287 per M. for the single cards and $0.6574 for the double cards. C. C. Woolworth 1921 His next will be his 90th birthday John S. Graham 1917 80 years of age Woolworth & Graham retired from the envelope business in 1869, selling their plant to a man named Brown, whose identity has with the passing of the years been lost. Both Mr. Woolworth and Mr. Graham are still living and, for men of their years, in fine physical condition, enjoying the gloaming of well-ordered lives. JAMES LOGAN, General Manages, 18 CHAPTER IX THOMAS MC SPEDON, MC SPEDON & BAKER, MC SPEDON & ROBBINS Thomas McSpedon Among the first manu- facturers of machine-made envelopes in New York City was the firm of McSpedon & Baker, later McSpedon & Robbins. Thomas McSpedon's name first appears in the New York City Directory in 1839 as a bookbinder at 1 Pine Street. He con- tinued there until 1845, when the firm name of McSpedon & Baker appears as stationers at 23-25 Pine St. They were at that location from 1846 to 1856. In 1856 their name ap- pears as blank book and envelope manufac- turers at 29-33 Beekman St. In 1863 they moved to 51 Ann St. and in 1866 the firm name was changed to McSpedon & Robbins, who are given simply as manufacturers of envelopes. At one of these locations (it is now not known which) one of their neighbors was the poet, William Cullen Bryant, who took a lively interest in the success of the young men, and a friendship resulted which lasted through life. Mr. McSpedon was born in Hestor St., New York City, of Scottish parents, Aug. 9, 1817, and died Sept. 3, 1889. Mr. Charles Baker was born in New York and died in New York City in 1903. They were in business together over twenty years, the partnership having been dissolved in 1866. Mr. McSpedon was a member of the Board of Aldermen in New York City 1856-7-8-9-60 and in 1859-60 he was President of the Board. He was also for many years a member of the Board of Education and was a man who counted for something in the life of the city. At one time McSpedon & Baker were the New York City printers and stationers besides doing a large commercial business. Later they established a branch at 402 D St., Wash- ington, D. C, having large contracts with the government. Their name first appears in the Washington City Directory in 1855. It was a natural evolution to add to their kindred lines of business the manufacture of envelopes first by hand and then by ma- chinery. Mr. Henry C. Berlin told the "G. M." that McSpedon & Baker operated machines built by a man named W. W. Cotton, to whom a patent for an envelope-folding machine was granted April 8, 1856, being No. 14,625 [see page 14 in Woolworth & Graham record], this being the fifth patent granted for an envelope machine in the United States. Mr. Cotton was certainly one of the pio- neers, for his patent was granted three years before the Duff & Keating patent in 1859, and seven years before the patent was granted to Geo. H. Reay in 1863. Mr. Cotton was at one time foreman for Samuel Raynor, when he was operating _ his plant at the corner of John and William Streets. Patent Office Drawing of W. W. Cotton's Envelope Machine, Patent No. 14,625 April 8, 1856 Mr. F. C. Graves, who died in 1910, after forty years of service with the Plimpton Mfg. 21 Co., Hartford, Conn., and who prior to that worked for Geo. H. Reay, installing his en- velope-folding machines, told the "G. M." that Mr. Cotton, he believed, was an English- man, and that he enlisted during the Civil War and died in the service. Mr. Graves was also under the impression that while there were quite a number of different types of crude envelope-folding machines in use by different firms in New York, worked by foot power, he believed the Cotton envelope-folding machine was the first power envelope machine used in New York. The Cotton machine was provided with a counter. This was a tin box divided into compartments, into which the envelopes were discharged from the folding box. When twenty-five envelopes had been dropped into one of the compartments a ratchet moved the box to present another compartment to receive the next bunch. But this counting mechanism had little value, for it counted not completed perfect envelopes, but revolu- tions of the machine, so that when the machine made waste, as it did most of the time, the count in the boxes was wrong. But this was one of the forerunners of present counting mechanisms. In 1866 they sold their envelope machine plant, consisting of six Cotton machines, to Woolworth & Graham, who continued to operate the factory at 51 Ann St., with offices and sales rooms on John St. CHAPTER X GENERAL DANIEL E. SICKLES (Story of helping Nancy to escape from slavery) Following the often almost obliterated trail of some of the early pioneers in the envelope industry, both from the mechanical and commercial sides of the business, has called for a large amount of time and much correspond- ence on the part of the "G. M." but there have been compensations for the time and effort expended. It has given to the "G. M.," and he hopes to all those who have followed the "Story of the Envelope," a greater appreciation of the service these pioneers rendered to the men and women connected with the business today. These men blazed the way into the unknown and made our problems easier and they are silent partners with us in this splendid industry today. Following some of these trails has renewed friendships which the passing of the years and the daily burden had crowded to one side. Some of the trails have led into pleasant by- paths — experiences have been had and new friendships have been formed that are worth while and are to be counted among the assets of life. One such pleasant by-path was developed in 1904, when trying to follow the trail of McSpedon & Baker, probably the first makers of machine-made envelopes in New York City. It was suggested by someone that perhaps General Daniel E. Sickles could give me some information about this firm, so having made an appointment for an interview, I called at his residence on Lower Fifth Avenue, New York City. I was shown into the reception room and asked to be seated and told the General would see me presently. Being a late riser, he was just finishing his breakfast. In due time I heard the fall of his crutches, as the old veteran, who lost a leg at Gettysburg, came through the corridor from the breakfast room. I made known my errand and asked if he could call to mind the New York firm of McSpedon & Baker, printers, who in the early 40's made envelopes by hand before the day of machine-made envelopes. As he turned back the leaves in the book of memory the names finally came to him and he said : "Yes, I distinctly remember Mr. McSpedon, who was a printer by trade. He was of Scottish extraction — he was quite a man — independ- ent and forceful — a good deal of a politician of the better type." If his memory was not at fault, he said, he thought McSpedon was an Alderman in New York in the late 50' s. This proved to be correct; he was an Alderman from 1856 to 1860 inclusive, being Chairman of the Board in 1859 and 1860, in those strenu- ous years just preceding the Civil War. After further reflection he said he was of the opinion 24 that it was about the year 1844 that he first knew him and he thought at one time he had associated with him a man named Baker. This all came back to him more easily be- cause he himself in early life had been a printer, and, therefore, had an acquaintance with the other members of the craft. He could tell me nothing about him or his firm as en- velope makers. He could remember him only as a printer. As he called up the years of the past, the fire of youth returned as his seventy-nine years of life was passing in review and he emphasized what he was saying by pounding the floor with his crutch, while a stream of oaths flowed forth that was artistic and as the stream flowed on, gathering momentum each minute, his talk did not strike me as being profane. It seemed simply a part of his vocabulary and did not seem out of place. Now let him tell the story : "How these things come back to me — experiences which I had in those early days and of which I have not thought for the life- time of most men. This man McSpedon did quite a business with the government and part of the time lived in Washington, D. C. When I was elected to Congress in 1857 I was only thirty- two years of age and I think I was one of the youngest, if not the youngest man in the House, and having known McSpedon in New York I very naturally got in touch with him when I went to the Capitol. "Washington was not then the city that it now is. In those days there was not a paved street in the city — nothing but mud roads — and such mud! The life of a Congressman was not then what it is now and Washington society for a Northern Congressman, partic- ularly so young a man, without wealth or influence, did not count for very much, though for the Southern Congressman, society counted for a great deal. "As a Congressman I had very humble quar- ters. I hired Mrs. McSpedon's front room and took my meals at a restaurant. Those years preceding the war were hot times in politics and many men did not always dare to say all they had in their minds. "My God, how I remember some of those experiences! One day I came back to my room from the Capitol and found Mrs. McSpedon standing in the front hall in tears, while black Nancy, the cook, was standing in the hall crying, half hidden by the door which led into the kitchen, while standing at the foot of the stairs was a big bully, who probably weighed 250 pounds, who had evi- dently been having his say before I appeared on the scene. "I did not know what it all meant and I said to Mrs. McSpedon, 'What is the trouble, Mrs. McSpedon, can I be of any assistance to you?' "It appeared that black Nancy, the cook, was owned by a slaveholder over on the Virginia side of the Potomac and he had sold her to a man in New Orleans; and this man had come after her, and he was going to take her with him and was not willing to allow her 26 to go over to her Virginia cabin to bid goodbye to her husband and four little babies, from whom she was to be parted forever. "I said to the man, 'Why can't you allow Nancy to go over and see her babies before you take her away?' And at that he boiled over at me and ordered me to mind my own damned business or there would be trouble for me. "Now, while I was a tall young man, up to this time I had not begun to fill out very much and was on the whole rather slight. I kept my temper and simply said, 'I asked you a gentlemanly question and thought I was entitled to a gentlemanly answer,' which brought from the man another explosion of oaths and abuse and a second suggestion that I mind my own damned business. "I passed on up the stairs to my room but I don't think I ever did more thinking in the same number of minutes in my life. "I had always known of and recognized slavery as an institution but, my God! I was up against it now in all its blackness, and I saw its awfulness as never before; and during those few minutes, not more than two minutes, I made up my mind to fight it. What the effect was to be for me — a Democratic Congressman from New York, taking up on the side of a black negro wench, never came into my mind for a minute. "I opened the drawer in my bureau, took out my revolver and going to the head of the stairs, I pointed it at the slave-driving bully, 27 at the bottom of the stairs, at the same time calling on him to throw up his hands, which he did without any ceremony. "I then said, as I was coming down the stairs, 'Have you got any papers for this woman?' And he had to acknowledge that he had not. And then it was my turn. My temper was getting away from me and I let out a volley of oaths at him that made his speech look like as if he had been speaking a Sunday School piece and I told him to get out of the house and if he didn't I would fill his dirty carcass full of lead; and still holding his hands up, I backed him out on the side- walk and then I told him to get, and he did. He evidently started to get his papers. I then said to Mrs. McSpedon, 'We must get rid of Nancy,' and I asked Mrs. McSpedon how much money she had, and after counting her money she said she had three dollars. I found that I had just ten dollars with me, so we took Nancy out into the kitchen and while Mrs. McSpedon got out a suit of her husband's old cloths, I used the shears on black Nancy's hair and in about ten minutes we had a pretty likely looking coon in the kitchen. Then I told Mrs. McSpedon to get a basket and get some food into it, and while she was doing that I went up to my room and wrote a letter to a friend in Baltimore whom I could trust and to another in Philadelphia, asking them each to help this good darkey for my sake and not to ask any questions just now, but just trust me for the present. Then I gave Nancy the thirteen dollars, told her to keep in the country and away from people 28 as much as possible, but to work her way up to this friend of mine in Baltimore and he would help her on to Philadelphia and then to New York, where she would be safe, and as she had food enough she would not need to ask for anything to eat till after she got beyond Philadelphia. "In about two hours the slave driver re- turned with the necessary papers to take Nancy, but the bird had flown and once more we had the torrent of abuse and profanity at which we only laughed." The old General then relaxed — the tension was gone, and he added, "And Nancy got away and in about a couple of years I got her husband and all her four babies up here and she and her husband lived and died here in New York within a dozen squares of my home, where we are now sitting." JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. The Hall-mark of Quality March, 1922 Number 16 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In Springfield, Mass. by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. HARRISON AVENUE FACTORY, 1921 E. Morgan & Co. 1864 Morgan Envelope Co. 1870 Morgan Env. Co. Div. 1898 CHAPTER XI Elisha Morgan, the moving spirit of the Morgan Envelope Co., was born in North- field, Mass., Sept. 7, 1833. His ancestors are traced back to the 16th century. Three brothers by the name of Morgan emigrated with the Massachusetts Bay Co. in 1636. Mr. Morgan was descended from one of these brothers, Captain Miles Morgan. On the site of Capt. Miles Morgan's home, or very near it on Cypress Street, Spring- field, Mass., there has been erected the build- ing occupied by the United States Envelope Company's General Offices and its P. P. Kellogg & Co., Morgan Fine Stationery, Morgan Tissue Divisions, and on this build- ing the Connecticut Valley Historical Society has placed a bronze tablet with the following inscription : Mr. Morgan's father was a well-to-do mer- chant in the town of Northfield, Mass., and his son had the advantage of good schooling. In his youth Mr. Morgan worked in his father's store, getting valuable business ex- perience. On leaving home when sixteen years of age he found employment for two years in a store in Greenfield, Mass., then he became a clerk in the office of the Connecticut River R. R. Co. at Greenfield, later being transferred to Holyoke, Mass., and at the age of 21 was paymaster of the company. At 23 years of age he was made general freight agent and two years later became general ticket agent, which position he held till 1864 when he was 29 years of age. He resigned a sure thing in the railroad business to take the uncertainty of a new business, what would now be called an infant industry. In the story of the beginnings of the White, Corbin Co. Div. at Rockville, Conn., Red Envelope No. 12, Chapter VI, page 20-21, reference is made to the firm of Shelton & Andross, which made boxes for the Thread Co., the Silk Co., and the Envelope Co. in the Glasgow Mill on Brooklyn St. in Rockville, Conn. This firm in 1863 bought four Reay ma- chines and under the name of the Rockville Env. Co. began the manufacture of envelopes. The venture was not a success and in 1864 they sold their plant and equipment to Mr. Elisha Morgan of Springfield, Mass., who had been the general ticket agent of the Conn. River R. R. Co. He at once moved the ma- chinery to Springfield, Mass., and associated with him Mr. Chester W. Chapin of Spring- field, Mass., President of the Boston & Elisha Morgan In the late 60's Albany R. R., and other Springfield men, and changed the name to E. Morgan & Co. [See Red Envelope No. 12, Chap- ter VI, pp. 20-21.] In 1916 the "G. M." asked Mr. Slater to write for him the story of his connections with the en- velope business, which he kindly consented to do, and below is given his story in his own words : "Springfield, Mass., "Jan. 30, 1916. "Mr. James Logan, General Manager, "United States Envelope Co., "Worcester, Mass. "My Dear Mr. Logan: "I have been more than fifty years with the Morgan Env. Co. I was born Nov. 17, 1839, in West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Mass. When 16 years old I began to learn the trade of a machinist, starting as an apprentice with the Thos. H. Spencer Co., general machinists and builders of machinery. I had a hand in the construction of many kinds of machines, but there was nothing resem- bling an envelope machine in the lot. Wm. D. Slater When 18 years of age "After learning my trade I first took a position in the New York & New Haven R. R. shops at New Haven, remaining there till 1860. When 21 years of age I went to Holyoke and entered the employ of the Whiting Machine Co. Soon after going there I became acquainted with Mr. Cyrus L. Frink, who was about to start the manufacturing of envelopes in Holyoke, Mass. "In 1862 he engaged me to take charge of the mechanical end of the business. The factory was located in the Parsons Paper Co. mill, the first building below the Holyoke dam. DUFF & KEATING, Patented Feb. 1, 1859 [From an old advertisement] "Our equipment consisted of four Duff & Keating machines, making five and six size envelopes. Each machine required two operators, one girl to feed and another to pick up and band the goods. These machines were very crude and simple. The plunger, creasing box and folding block were about like those used now and they operated as they do at present on many machines. The folding block was covered with rubber packing an eighth of an inch thick. The bottom edges of the plunger were sharp and as the blanks were conveyed under the plunger it pressed them down and creased them. (Sometimes they folded on the creases and sometimes they didn't.) After they were folded the block dropped to allow the envelope to fall onto a table where they were picked up one by one, counted, banded and boxed. "Some of them were pretty good, too, at any rate they were good judged by the standards of the time. I wouldn't say, though, that we should be satisfied with such work today. The blanks were, of course, gummed by hand. Production for the whole outfit of four machines was from 35,000 to 38,000 in 10 hours — if we had good luck. "After about two years Mr. Frink sold his business to Taylor & Mossman and I went to New York City with the J. R. Hawley Pub. Co. on William St. Here I found a little later type of the Duff & Keating machines. While they were an improvement on the earlier model, requiring only one operator, they were not self-gummers. Their plant consisted of two machines. The Duff & Keating machines which they were operating were something new at that time. The gum box, 8" x 4" xl" deep was divided into two compartments — one of them contained gum and the other a sponge. The separating par- tition in the gum box was perforated, allow- ing the gum to percolate through and moisten the sponge. The gum box was supported on ways just over the carriers. As the picker went to its highest point the gum box slid under and a depression in the cam allowed the picker to drop and hit on the sponge, then rising again, which allowed the gum box to return to its original position. The picker would then drop onto the pile of flat blanks, pick up the top one and deliver it to the car- riers. "In 1864 Elisha Morgan bought four Reay machines of William W. Andross (Shelton & Andross,) (Rockville Env. Co.,) of Rockville, Conn., and engaged me to run them. J. M. D. KEATING Patent No. 39,053, June 30, 1863 [From an old advertisement] "Soon after I went to New York Mr. Morgan called on me where I was working for the J. R. Hawley Pub. Co., William St., under very unfavorable conditions and dis- heartening surroundings. When Mr. Morgan called he simply said, 'Do you like to work here?' I replied, 'I do not.' Mr. Morgan said, 'Do you want to come back to Spring- field to work for me?' and I said, 'Yes,' and Mr. Morgan said, 'All right, come on as soon THE FIRST HOME OF THE MORGAN ENV. CO. Leet Building, Hillman St. as you can.' The transaction was opened, continued and closed in less than five min- utes. Hours and wages were not mentioned and so I began an engagement which has practically lasted through life. "I went to Rockville and ran the machines there for a few weeks, then we brought the ma- 10 chinery to Springfield. We were first located in the Leet Building on the corner of Dwight and Hillman Streets on the site where now stands the Germona Bldg. At that time I was superintendent, cutter, adjuster, machinist, and when these duties left me leisure, I helped Mr. Morgan pack the goods. Soon after the small plant of four Reay machines, cutting press, etc., had been moved to Springfield and I was getting the plant in operation, I broke the bone in one of my legs, but business could not be stopped for so trivial a thing as a broken leg, so old Dr. Breck fixed me up with splints, etc., and each morning Mr. Morgan came to my boarding house with an old hack, carried me to the hack and when we reached the factory (this being before the day of elevators) I would crawl up onto Mr. Mor- gan's back and he 'pigbacked' me up to the room on the second floor, and all. day long I hobbled round with a crutch and at night Mr. Morgan 'pigbacked' me home again, and I was never off duty a single day on account of the accident. "Before long, however, we added not only more help but three more Reay machines which made special sizes for which there was a limited demand. "These Reay machines (by the way, one of them is still in commission — kept in com- mission largely as a matter of sentiment) [See Fig. A], as it binds the past to the present. It is running at the present time at the Morgan Env. Co. on a special size envelope for which there is a very limited demand. "The Reay machines were not self-gum- 11 mers but they made better envelopes than the Duff & Keating machines. "The production was about 2,500 per hour and they required but one girl to operate them. The earliest of these machines made commercials 3, 4, 5 and 6, but before long we added a 9 and 10 official. I^HriREft* Mil , '^ ^ I,J 1 "Sattltt J Fig. A Photograph of one of the Morgan Env. Co.'s original Reay machines "About 1869 the business which had grown steadily was moved from Hillman St. to Tay- lor St. In 1873 the business was again moved into the new building erected by Emerson Wight on Worthington St. The box shop was left in the old building and was run by 12 Seymour Bros. Additional room was ac- quired in the adjacent building, corner Main & Worthington Sts., where was located on the top floor a Finishing Department for folding and ruling papers. Up to this time the paper mills had not added the folding and ruling of paper. They were simply paper makers and the finishing of papers was a separate business. The envelope business was finally crowded out of the Worthington St. building and located on the third floor of the same building as the Finishing Depart- ment, corner Main and Worthington Sts. "More Reay machines were added and some years later a machine built by Lester & Serlin & Jones Env. Co. "Seal Flap Gumming and Folding Envelope Machine" Built by Lester & Wasley, Norwich, Conn. 13 Wasley of Norwich, Conn., under license from Berlin & Jones Env. Co. of New York, was purchased. This was the first self-gummer which we had. While this was in some re- spects a decided improvement on the Reay, when we came to run it I found a good many particulars in which it could be improved. "Mr. Lester used to come to see us fre- quently and he noted very carefully the sug- gestions I made and the improvements I had installed on the machine. Later embodying these changes in a new model he brought out the ' Leader' machine, for which I feel that I am partly responsible. The development of this machine will be more fully described in a future issue of the Red Envelope dealing with the development of Lester & Wasley, Norwich, Conn. First Postal Card Contract "In 1873 the Government for the first time issued postal cards and to the Morgan Env. Co. was awarded the first contract. The early postal cards were printed with an artistic design, consisting in part of a scroll-work bor- der in a rich brown ink. We found it very hard to match the shade of ink ex- actly, and were unable to get our best efforts past the inspector. We had the best talent we could secure, but there was no time to be lost and we were work- ing nights as well as Sundays. Finally, one Wm. D, Slater In the early 70's evening we seemed to have succeeded in get- ting an exact match, so we kept the Hoe Printing Press we had bought for the work doing all it could all night, but 'by the dawn's early light' we found our gaslight brown a daylight purple. At last, however, the diffi- culty was overcome, and prejudice aside, I think we made better postal cards than have ever been made by any later contractors. "It was while we were located in the Main and Worthington St. Building that the manufacture of Papeteries was started, Mr. Morgan being a pioneer in that line. This HARRISON AVE. PLANT, 1883 15 line, with the satisfactory growth of the en- velope business, made it necessary for us to have more room. "It was during the 70' s that we began to make our own paper boxes, which before that time we had bought from an outside box maker. So in 1882 the present main building of the Morgan Env. Co. on Harrison Ave. was started. Mr. Morgan said once, when he showed me the plans, 'We will let the two upper stories,' but they were never let and in August, 1883, when we moved in we found no more room that we needed. In fact, it was not many years before the west wing was added, increasing the floor space more than 50%. "About 1885 the manu- facture of toilet paper was added, the first spe- cialty being the 'King' toilet paper. When we acquired this patent the only machine which had ever been made was a crude wooden affair. I found that this could be much improved in a number of ways and the machines which we built to produce this line were not more than second cousins of the so- called model. Not only the machines for the 'King' but all the rest of the Tissue machinery for manufacturing the Pyramid and Springfield Oval and the 16 1 The King Toilet Fixture Springfield Oval Toilet Fixture round rolls — have been made in our own machine shops. "In the Harrison Ave. factory in 1883 we first made envelope machines of our own. "The first 'Slater' ma- chine was a Portfolio 8 (6j^xl0), built to make Speech envelopes on a gov- ernment contract, this being the first order placed by the Government for printed envelopes (other than stamped envelopes) , the order being secured by Mr. Wm. 0. Day, the pres- ent Treasurer of the United States Envelope Co. "Although that was thirty years ago, our National law makers then enjoyed sending envelopes full of eloquence to grateful con- stituents as well as they do now. Anyway, this machine has had a busy career ever since and I understand that it is kept humming all the time at present. The new Slater ma- chines are much like this first model though smoothed up in operation and capable of higher speed. When the Portfolio machine and a small Commercial of the same model had been built and proved, Mr. Morgan said : 'Well, we will build one more Commercial and then we won't make any more.' "That will give us machinery enough to meet the demand. Since then we have built up to the present time more than a hundred other machines, each being modeled on a preceding machine. Slater Envelope Machine, 1921 Front view "In 1874 the United States Stamped En- velope Co., Hartford, Conn., was formed and began work on their first government con- tract for making stamped envelopes. At first the flats were printed and embossed on the Allen Rotary Printing Press, nicknamed 'The Jumper,' then sealed and then folded. Un- preparedness is not exclusively a modern con- dition. We were suffering from a bad case of it when, with Plimpton Mfg. Co., we took over the manufacture of the govern- Slater Envelope Machine, 1921 Side view ment stamped envelopes and when it was time for the first delivery to Uncle Sam we were not ready. The Plimpton Mfg. Co. at Hartford was working as hard as possible and we at the Morgan Env. Co. plant at Spring- field were adapting four or five Reay machines to the Government's needs. When completed we took them to Hartford and we also took with us some trained envelope girl operators. The machines got to Hartford the latter part of one week and the contract required that we should have envelopes to ship the follow- ing Monday. So Mr. Wickham and I kept at them through Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday and they were ready to make envelopes when Monday morning came. Allen Rotary Printing Press "The Jumper" "Later, however, H. J. Wickham, of the Plimpton Mfg. Co., Hartford, Conn., invented a combination printing and folding envelope machine, grafting a gumming device on the front of the embossing machine and a folding machine on the rear of it, so that the blanks were gummed, printed, embossed, folded and counted at the same time. "This machine is known as the Wickham Printer and Folder. (The development of this machine has been fully described in No. 14 Red Envelope.) Horace John Wickham Envelope Printing and Folding Machine Side view "From this time on until the organization of the United States Envelope Co. in 1898, the growth of the Morgan Env. Co. was steady and satisfying. Output was increased and machines were gradually improved but the more recent years were less picturesque and less historically interesting. 'Yours truly, "Wm. D. Slater. 5 21 Mr. Slater, with his characteristic modesty, says little about his particular work, but it ought to be a part of the record that during all of these years he was the mechanical genius who developed the machinery for the envelope-folding department, the pape- terie department and the toilet paper depart- ment of the Morgan Env. Co. A more recent development in the envelope industry The ''Outlook," or "Window" Envelope is the "Outlook" or Window envelope and to Mr. Slater must be given the credit for first solving the problem of their manufacture by machinery, his patent, issued July 14, 1908, No. 893,105 being the basic patent for Window envelope machines. While 82 years of age he is still with us as one of our family, as interested in every new development as the younger men. He has reached that time in life, beautifully described by a single Scotch word, which, when we try to translate it into English, robs it of its beauty of expres- 22 sion. It would be like trying to describe the delicate perfume of the rose to one who had no sense of smell — it refers to that hour between the set of sun and the hour when night's dark mantle wraps the earth, "The Gloaming," and, as in the Scotch Highlands, the twilight or gloaming lasts till almost midnight, so our wish is that the gloaming of his life may be long, peaceful and happy, and we are sure it will be. Mr. Slater has had a man's job all his life and he has given to his work the best that was in him. He was never conscious that there was such a thing as a clock and it can with truth be said that his whole life has been such that while he has a strong personality, he has not an enemy in the world. Surely, this is one of the rich compensa- tions of life which cannot be measured by material possessions. Too often words of ap- preciation are not said until it is too late, so we are glad to give them expression now, while our friend is still with us. Wm. D. Slater 1921 2V> FOUR GENERATIONS Reading from left to right : Mrs. Jennie Slater Robinson Wadsworth Robinson Pierce Mrs. Emily Robinson Pierce Mr. William D. Slater Morgan's "Old Guard" This picture shows a group of U. S. E. men whose total length of service with our Com- pany is 172 years. Left to right : Mr. William D. Slater, 58 years of service; Mr. George 24 M. Pope, 46 years; and Mr. John C. Dear- don, 43 years. Mr. Robert Dourgea (the younger man at the back) has been with the Kellogg Division 25 years. On March 12, 1870, the Morgan Env. Co. was incorporated with a capital of $45,000,00. The original stockholders were — H. M. Castle Chester W. Chapin Elisha Morgan O. K. Merrill Emerson Wight Wm. D. Slater H. M. Castle Emerson Wight In early life 1865 The members of the first Board of Directors were Chester W. Chapin, President, Elisha Morgan, Treasurer, and H. M. Castle and Emerson Wight, Directors. 25 Chester W. Chapin On Feb. 19, 1872, the capital stock was increased to $100,000.00. On May 1, 1873, the Morgan Env. Co. was awarded the first contract for making postal cards for the United States Government, the contract being for four years, 1873-1877, at $1.39% per M. In 1874 the Morgan Env. Co. joined forces with the Plimpton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn., and entered into a four-year contract with the United States Government to manufacture stamped envelopes for the Gov- ernment, a contract which they jointly held for 32 years, from 1874 to 1906. (This was more fully referred to in No. 14, Red En- velope, Chapter VII.) When in 1898 ten of the leading envelope manufacturing companies were consolidated into the United States Envelope Company, the Morgan Env. Co. became one of the sub- sidiary divisions. Mr. Elisha Morgan became one of the Vice Presidents of the consolidated 26 company which position he held until his death in 1903. At the time of the formation of the American Writing Paper Co., in 1899, this being a consolidation of 29 separate paper manufacturing companies, Mr. Morgan was elected President, a position he held until his death in 1903, in his 69th year. Elisha Morgan 1898 27 THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF PAPETERIE MAKING Springfield was practically the birthplace of the Papeterie business in the United States. With the passing years the history of the beginnings of every industry becomes some- what blurred and the steps of its development are often hard to trace and legend and tradi- tion is sometimes all we have to guide us. It has been claimed that a New York manu- facturer began to make Papeteries in a very limited way at about the same time that Mr. Morgan began the business on a larger scale at Springfield, Mass., but following this tradition has developed no authentic trail to establish that fact. E. Morgan began the manufacture in 1865, the year following his entry into the field of envelope making and a careful survey of the facts developed about the early envelope makers in New York City develops no reference whatever to Papeteries. From all the data the "G. M." has devel- oped it would seem that the honor of being the first in the Papeterie field belongs to E. Morgan & Co., now the Morgan Stationery Co. Div. of the United States Env. Co. They soon had quite a field of competitors in the Connecticut Valley as well as in New York City. L. B. Plimpton & Co., of Hartford, Conn., were in the field in 1867. It would seem that L. J. Powers & Bro., now the Powers Paper Co., soon followed E. 28 Morgan & Co. in the manufacture of envelopes and Papeteries. They were in the newspaper and stationery business under the Massasoit Hotel and moved in 1864 to the Goodrich Block and a few years later began in a small way the manufacture of envelopes, later add- ing the manufacture of Papeteries, but the exact date cannot now be determined but it was probably about the year 1867-8. Lewis J. Powers When a young man Lewis J. Powers Later in life P. P. Kellogg is reported to have started in the Pape- terie business in 1869. George A. Russell was the bookkeeper for E. Mor- gan & Co. and later was the bookkeeper for P. P. Kel- logg & Co. and still later he organized the National Papeterie Co. of which he was the active manager for many years. 29 Philo P. Kellogg Geo. A. Russell When a young man Geo. A. Russell Later in life Taylor, Nichols & Co., Springfield, Mass., later Murphy & Souther, and still later John A. Murphy & Co., were also in the field about 1869 or 1870. It is a source of regret that we have not been able to procure a picture of either Elijah Nichols or John E. Taylor (familiarly called Deacon Taylor). Mr. Murphy is the only one of these three pioneers whose picture we were able to secure. John L. Murphy 30 In New York the Berlin & Jones Envelope Co. was making initial papeteries in 1869, so also was J. Q. Preble & Co., but no detail of this early development in New York is now avail- able. In addition there were quite a number of small manufacturers in New York, whose names have with the passing of the years disappeared. The Birnie Paper Co. began as a co-partnership the manufacture of pape- teries in 1882. The com- pany was incorporated in 1901. The Taylor Mfg. Co., now Taylor, Atkins Paper Co., at Burnside, Conn., was manu- facturing papeteries as far back as 1890. Eaton, Hurlbut Paper Co. began the manufacture of Papeteries at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1893, and in 1908 the name was changed to the Eaton, Crane & Pike Co. Since then many other firms have entered the Papeterie field but the mission of The Red Envelope is to deal with the beginnings of the industry. The artistic character of the boxes devel- oped by E. Morgan & Co. with the steel plate portrait of Mrs. Scott-Siddons on the top of the boxes enabled the Morgan Co. to hold the market but for only a short time for m 1867 lithographic productions took the place of the high-grade steel-plate work. The early 31 chromo lithographic designs were beautiful, both in design and execution, and the Mary Pickfords of that era had their innings. Por- traits of all the leading actresses of the day were developed, some of them in as many as eight and ten colors, but, with the sharp com- petition, the quality of the lithographic work began to deteriorate and soon the name MRS. SCOTT-SIDDONS "Chromo" which had stood for the highest grade of work in the lithographic art had become a by-word and stood for anything cheap in any line of industry. In the year 1878, the American Papeterie Co. was formed, it being a consolidation of the Papeterie business of the Morgan Env. 32 Co., Plimpton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn., and the Powers Paper Co. of Springfield, Mass. Each company owned a proportion of the capital stock. The goods were all manufac- tured by the American Papeterie Co. The Powers Paper Co. and the Plimpton Mfg. Co. bought all their papeteries of the new organ- ization. This company was in existence three or four years when all the capital stock was acquired by the Morgan Env. Co. and the corporation of the American Papeterie Co. was dissolved. Years afterward the American Papeterie Co. of Albany, New York, was organized, but this company was not in any way connected with the earlier organization bearing the same name. [From The Paper World] [May, 1884] THE MORGAN ENVELOPE CO., SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Papeterie, a word that has been adopted from the French, signifies "a manufacture of paper," and, in its special meaning, it is a name applied to a box containing writing paper and envelopes and, sometimes, other materials used in writing. Before putting up papeteries, the person desiring to get a supply of writing materials went to a stationery- store, or in the country, to a "general notion" store selling molasses, calico, nails and stationery. People were not so particular once as they are now, to have all their belongings artist- ically correspond with each other and it was not of much matter to them if they bought one kind of writing paper and another kind of envelopes, or if the paper and envelopes failed to match in quality and kind. They bought what was offered to them. A lady would go into a store where she could purchase it, and get a quire or two of white commercial note or, more likely, letter paper, no tints being then made, and a bunch of the en- velopes of the most common size, their tints from the beginning of their manufacture in this country, at about 1840, till about 1850, being exclusively buff or what we now call manilla. The salesman took the paper from a package containing a large quantity and wrapped it with the envelopes in brown paper. She bought a few pens, it did not matter much what kind, a small bottle of ink, and a pen- holder of almost any make that was proffered. She was then fully equipped for writing a letter applying for a summer school to teach, or a letter to her lover, or a note accepting an invitation to go to a party, or a letter of con- dolence, or a letter for any one of the many purposes for which letters were written. The materials were the same in every case and the letter always had the same appearance. The letter- writing of a people going through a process of differentiation and definiteness, in their social customs, ways of business and habits of living, all of them be- coming more heterogeneous, cannot preserve one form very long, but must go through the same differentiation and changes toward definiteness. In the course of time nice envelopes were no longer buff, but white or cream; for ladies' use commercial note took the place of letter paper, and note paper came to be used instead of either, and it was given a cream tint. The taste of ladies im- proved and they became dissatisfied with a haphazard collection of writing materials, and demanded a uniformity of kind. It was not always easy, however, to secure this uni- formity, unless at a stationery store carry- ing a very large stock. When ladies arrived at the point at which they were pleased in having a harmonious assortment of writing paper and materials put up in such a way as to gratify the fancy, the market was then ripe for papeteries — there was only wanting some practical man of good taste to suitably and attractively prepare the goods for the trade. 35 In the autumn of 1865 Mr. E. Morgan began to put up an embossed initial note paper, octavo, with No. 3 envelopes, 2jJ x 4% "to match, which ladies' note or "octavo" paper folded twice would fit. The paper and envelopes were white and were put up in plain boxes holding five quires each. A smaller amount was found very salable and the number of quires put in one box were soon made two, with a corresponding diminu- tion in the number of envelopes and price. Early in 1866 the company began putting up the single quire boxes which at once struck the popular fancy and gave the business the vigorous start from which it has steadily grown to large proportions. During the summer of the same year a new line was added of the same sized paper and envelopes, but rose tinted. The making of tinted papers had recently been introduced and they were rapidly received into popular favor. The rose tinted papeteries of E. Morgan & Co. caught the early tide and they mark the beginning of the rage for papers in fancy tints. Mrs. Scott-Siddons had then just come to this country, bringing with her a reputation for great beauty, just as Mrs. Langtry did later. It occurred to Mr. Morgan that a hit might be made by putting a steel plate por- trait of the lady on the boxes, and he tried it. They took the public in a weak spot and had great popularity. This line of paper and boxes had such a run of sale that it was found impossible to print from the steel plate fast enough to meet the demand and the design 36 had to be transferred to a lithograph stone. From first to last nearly 4,000,000 of these por- traits were printed, pasted on boxes and sold. The use of the portrait of Mrs. Siddons sug- gested that opera singers might be made to take her place on the box covers and the sug- gestion was carried out by printing their pictures with the chromo-lithographic pro- cess. Chromos and lithographs of eight opera singers and actresses were made in fifteen colors, and it was the best work of the kind ever done in this country. The initials first made were small, and per- festly plain. The size of the initial was very soon increased and styles in great variety were introduced, including the old English, rustic, etc. A curious fact illustrating the whimsicalities of popular taste is that while the first writing paper put out was an initial note, initials were in a few years discontinued altogether. In the days of initial papeteries when a style had become obsolete, all the odd letters like X, Y, Z were sold to theatrical companies who gave them as presents to the ladies in the audience. The first unstamped fancy paper was offered for sale in 1869, and in 1873 it had entirely supplanted the initial. While these developments were taking place in the initials the tints and the chromos, the boxes themselves underwent improve- ments. The covers of the boxes were given hinges so that they might be opened like a book; indeed, some of them were given a book-like appearance and the deception was made complete by putting on the back a label on which was printed the name of 37 some well-known book. The varieties now increased very rapidly from the lonesome one in 1865, and two in 1866, to about a dozen in 1867, and so on, adding many every year until the varieties of papeterie boxes made by the Morgan Envelope Company numbered thousands, while the kinds made by all manufacturers were very large indeed. The paper boxes went to a class of people recognized as having fine taste. There was nothing gaudy about such papeteries, and their quality was unexcelled. The fancy papeteries were distinguished by their boxes, to which was largely due the difference in prices. Many of the boxes were made most exquisite and elegant. They were made of wood — mahogany, black walnut and oak being used, and the wood was covered with many fabrics and materials, satin, plush, velvet, gelatine, paper, leatherette, leather, etc., in harmonizing colors. The fine grain of the wood was often left exposed and was hand painted in artistic designs of vines, flowers, leaves and the like. Some boxes had a mirror in the center of the lid, others were provided with a nickel handle, had embroideries or embossed hearts, crescents and flowers, or gold bugs on the plush cover- ing of the lid, or sides. A sample may be a cabinet covered with silk plush, lined with satin, having a nickel handle and lock and containing one-quarter ream of note paper and envelopes to match. Cheaper boxes had lithographs or chromos on the covers. The plush, velvet and satin, the hand-painting and the various ornaments in gold, embroid- ery and embossed work, made a box of great elegance, extreme attractiveness, and such were highly valued by every lady who had one. The cheapest papeterie was a neat paper box with a wood cut on the cover, containing a quire of fine paper and envelopes to match'. It then sold for six cents to jobbers. From this the prices run up to $5 a box. Very fine ones were bought by jobbers for $1.50 to $2.50. The papeterie boxes were much sought by ladies, because when the paper was used, the boxes were left to become receptacles for some of the scores of articles that ladies have to put in them — for jewelry, collars, laces, photographs, stereoscopic views, playing cards, gloves, handkerchiefs, etc., boxes for the two articles last named were often sold in sets, the handkerchief box being square and the glove box long, low and narrow. In papeterie boxes there were put at one time pencils, pens, penholders, ink erasers, fancy soap, perfumery, picture cards, jewelry and various other articles besides writing paper and envelopes. During the various stages of the development of the business ingenuity has been taxed to invent novelties and not .a few outrages on good taste, both in the ornamentation of boxes, the size and shapes of envelopes and paper and in colors and ruling have been the natural conse- quences. But the present generation is more critical than its predecessors and it is insisting upon conformity to good taste. Public taste has many vagaries but it swings back to correct aestheticism in the long run. Not. only have better goods been coming into demand, but a more careful workmanship 39 in all the appurtenances has been required. Even opera singers' chromos, which have been the rage throughout, have largely given way to comply with the dictates of improving taste. The reaction against the overdone fancy tints began in 1876. There has been a good deal of changeableness, too, in regard to rulings. In 1874, the rep or embossed- lined papers became immensely popular, partly on account of their novel appearance and partly because of the feeling which pre- vailed widely that ink rulings were vulgar. These are not much used now, for perfectly plain, unruled note paper has the leading sale. A growing branch of this business was the putting up of what were called "local pape- teries." Across the upper left hand corner of each sheet of note paper was diagonally embossed and printed in gilt the name of the town or city where the paper was used. Such papeteries found a welcome reception in all cities where they were offered for sale by stationers. Robert W. Day was born in Springfield, Mass., Feb. 7, 1852. His connection with the Morgan Env. Co. dates from Feb. 7, 1874. It was under his direction that the Toilet Paper Department was developed. He was elected a director Feb. 7, 1878. He was elected Treasurer of the Company Jan. 28, 1884, holding that position till the Com- pany was merged into the United States Envelope Co. On Aug. 12, 1898, he was elected Treasurer of the United States Env. Co. and held that office until Sept. 9, 1903, when he resigned to become President of the 40 Springfield United Electric Light Co. when he was succeeded by his brother, William O. Day. On Sept. 9, 1908, he was elected Third Vice President and on Mar. 17, 1916, Second Vice President of the United States Envelope Co., which position he still holds. Robert W. Day Robert W. Day 1878 1921 26 years of age Mr. William O. Day was born in Spring- field, Mass., Nov. 5, 1857, and began working in the office of the Morgan Envelope Co. in Aug., 1871, when 14 years of age. With the passing of the years he eventually became the Manager of the envelope department of the business, and on Jan. 26, 1880, he was elected clerk and direc- tor of the Company, which offices he held until the company became one of the divisions of the United States Envelope Co. On Jan. 18, 1899, he was elected a Director of the United States Envelope Co. and on Feb. 2, 1900, he was elected Assistant General Manager, and on Sept. 9, 1903 . he was elected Treasurer of the United States Envelope Company, a position he still holds. Mr. William B. Sleigh, Manager of the Morgan Env. Co. Div., was born in Bayonne, N. J., Sept. 27, 1872. His early schooling was ob- tained in the public schools of Providence, R. I., where in due course he was gradu- ated from the High School. Later he found work with Gerard & Brown, dealers in dye stuffs and chemicals, where he remained about a year. Wm. B. Sleigh, Manager ^ ^ f ^ q£ ^q ^ came to Springfield and began working for the Morgan Env. Co., Nov. 1, 1890, as office boy at $3.00 per week. After the organization of the United States Env. Co. in 1898, on Feb. 10, 1899, he was elected Assistant Manager of the Morgan Env. Co. Div., and on Oct. 20, 1903, he was elected Manager. F. C. Brigham, Supt. 1921 Mr. F. C. Brigham, Superintendent of the Morgan Env. Co. Div., was born in Worcester, Mass., Sept. 15, 1880. He was graduated from the Worcester English High School in 1898 and from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1902. Before coming to the Morgan Div. he spent about a year and a half passing through all the departments of the Logan, Swift & Brig- ham Envelope Co. Division, making under the direction of Mr. D. W. Swift and Wm. D. Slater the drawings for the first Outlook attachment for the Window envelope machine. In January, 1904, he was transferred to the Morgan Env. Co. Div., his first work being adjusting envelope machines, also making some improvements in and under the supervision of Mr. Wm. D. Slater, making a complete set of drawings of the Slater En- velope-Folding Machine. In 1910 he was elected Superintendent. L. F. Smith, Ass't Sup't 1921 Mr. Leonard F. Smith, Assistant Super- intendent of the Morgan Env. Co. Division, was born in Templeton, Mass., July 19, 1891. He was graduated from the Gardner, Mass., High School in 1908, the Worcester Academy in 1909, and the Worcester Polytechnic Insti- tute in 1913. (During his summer vacations he worked in a small machine shop in Gard- ner, Mass.) In July of 1913 he began work as a machinist in the Construction Depart- ment of the Morgan Env. Co. Division. He was elected Assistant Superintendent, July 1, 1917. 44 Mr. E. P. Winter, Manager of the Morgan Sta. Co. Division, was born in Springfield, Mass., Jan. 3, 1874. He received his school- ing in the Springfield schools, graduating from the High School in 1892. Soon after graduating, he found employment with the P. P. Kellogg & Co., remaining with them until the company was merged into the United States Envelope Co. In March, 1899, he was transferred to the Morgan Env. Co. Division, and made Manager of the Papeterie Department. Later the name was changed to the Morgan Sta. Co. Div. On Feb. 3, 1908, he was elected Assistant Manager of the Morgan Env. Co. Division. Mr. Edson P. Winter, Manager Morgan Stationery Co. Division 1921 45 Francis A. Day was born in Boston, Mass., May 1, 1878, graduating from the Fitchburg, Mass., High School in 1896, and from Tufts College with the degree of A. B. in 1901. Worked for a short time as assistant to the agent of the Adams Express Co. at Fitchburg. In December, 1901, he became assistant to Mr. E. P. Winter in the Fine Stationery department of the Morgan EnV. Co. Div. Francis A. Day, and when that department superintendent r j.1 1_ • j Morgan Stationery Co. Div. of the business was trans- 192 i ferred to the new building on Cypress Street he became Superintendent of the Morgan Sta. Co. Division. THE MORGAN TOILET PAPER DEPARTMENT Mr. E. H. Day, the Manager of this depart- ment, was born and edu- cated in the Springfield schools. He began work with the Morgan Env. Co. as office boy at $2.00 per week and some years later became the bookkeeper. He has never worked for any other company Edward H. Day T r\r\r\ 1 Manag er In 1909 he was elected Morgan Tissue^ Department Manager of the TisSUe Department. 46 Mr. Robert J. Black was born in Holyoke, Mass., Feb. 13, 1887, and was educated in the public schools of Hol- yoke, taking special courses in the evening school of the Holyoke Business College. His first work was with the Baker- Vawter Co., for whom he worked two years. He began work in the General Office of the United States Env. Co., Springfield, Mass., in Aug- ust, 1905, and was made Assistant Manager of the Tissue Department in Aug- ust, 1906. Mr. Robert J. Black Ass't Manager Morgan Tissue Department 1921 Edward Nugent, Super- intendent of the Tissue Department, was born in North Adams, April 18, 1883. After serving four years in the United States Navy, he began work in the shipping room of the Morgan Env. Co. in 1903. He was made Super- Mr. Edward f. Nugent intendent of the Tissue superintendent Department in 1907. Morgan Tissue Department 1921 47 THE MORGAN NEW YORK OFFICE The story of the Morgan Envelope Co. would not be complete without including the record of John F. Hitchcock, who, since 1877 (45 years) has been the New York representative of the Morgan Envelope Co. and the United States Env. Co. He was born in Palmer, Mass., June 19, 1855, and before his connection with the Morgan Env. Co. he served a varied busi- ness apprenticeship as entry clerk for Homer, Foot & Co., hardware, in Springfield, Mass., John F. Hitchcock John F. Hitchcock 1877 1921 and Chicopee National Bank, bookkeeper and traveler for Chapin, Wooster & Co., wholesale millinery, Springfield, Mass., trav- eler for Taylor, Nichols & Co., ink and papeteries, Springfield, Massachusetts. Associated with him in the New York office are Mr. Chas. F. Hegeman, who has been with the company since 1885, and Mr. H. E. S. Buechner, who has been with the company since 1897. The combined terms of Mr. Hitchcock and his two lieutenants, Hegeman and Buechner, amount to over 100 years of service. Chas. F. Hegeman 1921 H. E. S. Buechner 1921 THE MORGAN BOSTON OFFICE The Boston office of the Morgan Envelope Company was opened by Fred L. Wood, at No. 12 Pearl Street in 1893, where desk room was secured in the Advertising Office of H. A. Dickerman & Co., Taunton, Mass., but soon needing larger quarters the office was Fred L Wood, 1922 Now Purchasing Agent United States EnvelopelCo. 49 moved to No. 77 Bedford St. and later moved to 157 Summer St. Mr. Wood was born in Springfield, Mass., Jan. 13, 1859. After leaving school he was employed for a short time as a clerk in the Smith & Murray depart- ment store, Springfield, Mass. On Feb. 19, 1879, he began work in the shipping depart- ment of the Morgan Env. Co. In April, 1881, he made his first trip "on the road," and when the Boston office was opened in 1893 he was put in charge. In 1903 he was trans- ferred to the Central Office at Springfield and made Assistant Purchasing Agent, and on the death of Wm. H. Prescott, in 1908. he was promoted to the position of Purchasing Agent. When Mr. Wood was transferred to the Springfield office in 1903, Mr. Dan. J. Kelly, who had been his assistant and who had been with the company since 1897, was made Man- ager of the Boston office. Mr. Kelly was born in Ellenville, Ulster County, New York, in 1873, gradu- ating from the High School in 1891. He studied law for about a year and in 1892 he moved to Maiden, Mass., taking a position in a retail establishment in Boston, assisting in buying and merchandising in sev- eral departments, one of which was books and stationery. After this apprenticeship he became associated with the Morgan Env. Co. in 1897. Dan. J. Kelly Boston Representative 50 THE MORGAN CHICAGO OFFICE For many years prior to 1898 the Morgan Env. Co. maintained a sales office in Chicago, operated under the name of Oliver H. Hicks Paper Co. In 1898 when the United States Envelope Co. was organized this arrangement was terminated and an office was opened by the Morgan Env. Co. Div. and was oper- ated under the charge of Mr. C. H. Geraghty, who was born in Bath, Maine, Mar. 2, 1863. Later his family moved to Springfield, Mass., where he received his early schooling, gradu- ating from the High School in 1881. That fall he found employment in the box shop of the National Papeterie Co. He passed through various departments, finally reach- ing the office, and in 1889 he was sent out "on the road" to sell goods. In 1892 he became connected with the Morgan Env. Co. and has been with them ever since, as Manager of the Chicago office. C. H. Geraghty C. H. Geraghty 1892 1921 Chicago Representative 1892-1922 51 Mr. George A. Wilson of the Morgan Envelope Company Chicago office staff is one of the veterans in the business. He was born in Lockport, New- York, Jan. 10, 1864, gradu- ating from the Commercial department of the Lock- port University in 1882. In 1887 he entered the em- ploy of the Chicago Manila Paper Co., 75 Lake Street, owned by Oliver H. Hicks. They manufactured paper boxes and carried the Mor- gan Env. Co.'s lines of toilet paper. When in 1898 the Morgan Env. Co. Div. took over the business, Mr. Wilson became a member of the Morgan staff. George A. Wilson 1921 THE MORGAN PHILADELPHIA OFFICE The Philadelphia office of the Morgan Envelope Co. was established in 1899 with Mr. Walter H. Hoff- man as resident manager. At his death in 1900, Mr. Edward E. Cohen was ap- pointed as his successor. Mr. Cohen was born in New York City, Jan. 11, Edward E. Cohen 1859. 1921 THE MORGAN SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE A. L. Bonney 1921 The establishment of the Pacific Coast office in the Rialto Building, San Francisco, California, is of recent date, 1916, and is in charge of Mr. A. L. Bonney. 53 The Hall-mark of Quality April, 1922 Number 17 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. DIVISION HARTFORD, CONN. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In New York City by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. iff} .11 III GEO. F. NESBITT & CO. Corner. Pearl and Pine Sts., New York City Joseph Spear 1795-1828 Geo. F. Nesbitt 1828-J1840 Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. 1840-1912 CHAPTER XII In the Edison Monthly of April, 1913, the house organ of the New York Edison Co., is an interesting account of "The House of Nesbitt" of New York City (1795 to 1912). From this article and an article in the Phila- telic Gazette of July and August, 1913, by L. G. Quackenbush, and from Bishop's History of American Manufactures, published by Edward Young & Co., Philadelphia, 1868, I make quotations supplementing such other data as I have been able to gather from various sources. The Philatelic Gazette was not interested in the development of envelope-making machin- ery but they were interested in the issues of postage stamps and of stamped envelopes, and they claim that some of the stamping work done by the early makers of stamped envelopes (Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. and Geo. H. Reay) has never been surpassed, and their interest in that particular class of work has preserved some of the historical records of the envelope industry, which would otherwise have been lost. What came in after years to be known as "The House of Nesbitt" was established in 1795 by Joseph Spear, an uncle of Geo. F. Nesbitt, who was born in New York City in 1809, and who, like many others who have risen to eminence in the various departments of practical life, achieved success by the force of natural talents unaided by early advan- tages. While a mere boy he was apprenticed to his uncle, Joseph C. Spear, to learn the art of printing and by the time he was fifteen years of age he was carrying a large burden of responsibility in his uncle's business. _ He remained with his uncle until after he attained his majority and later became his partner, but this connection was maintained only for a few years. On his uncle's death in 1828 the business was taken over by Mr. Nesbitt but just when the firm adopted the name of Geo. P. Nesbitt it is not possible to definitely state, but in 1831, under that name they were doing busi- ness at 117 Water Street. At first, after his uncle's death Mr. Nesbitt carried on the business under his own name only but by 1840 the "& Co." had been added but it is not known who represented the "Co.," and though there were various other partners in the business after Mr. Nesbitt's death in 1869 the firm name remained Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. up to the time of its disso- lution in 1912. About the year 1835 or 1836 Mr. Nesbitt became interested in the manufacture of wood block type by machinery. The machine which he used was invented by Edwin Allen, of Norwich, Conn., and this was supposed to be Mr. Allen's largest single contribution to the mechanic arts. A brief sketch of Mr. Edwin Allen would not be out of place here. The sketch below is taken from a quarterly publication issued by L. Johnson & Co., typefounders of Philadelphia. This was simply a four-page folder issued for adver- tising purposes to show specimens of type and was given the name "Typographic Art." The issue bears no date, so it is not possible to know definitely when or by whom the sketch was prepared. From An Article In "Typographic Art" MR. EDWIN ALLEN The Inventor of Machinery For Cutting Wood Type Mr. Allen was born on the 27th of March, 1811, in the town of Windham, Conn., then a place of some importance, and with a twin brother was the youngest of a family of nine children. His father had established himself there as a cabinet maker in the year 1800 and with that business also cultivated a farm lying on the west bank of the She- tucket. Young Allen was made a "tiller of the ground" until he reached an age proper for commencing a trade, when he was placed in the shop as an apprentice to his father's occupation. This was a calling not in con- sonance with his taste. His mind ran on machinery and he desired to study the prin- ciples of mechanical science which there was opportunity to do with an experienced mill- wright living near. But his father's choice was law and he faithfully worked in the shop until twenty-one, when he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the cabinet-making art. He also found that the time had not Edwin Allen, 1850 (39 years) been lost to his ruling purpose, Enterprising and thrifty, his father had neglected no improvement which could at that time be introduced into his busi- ness. He procured new and valuable machinery, so far as it was to be had, and young Allen found in this frequent gratification of his passion, each new machine being a means of instruction in his favorite study. It must suffice to add that during his apprenticeship he had himself invented various machines for doing work which had before been done solely by the hand. In the year 1835, he left the old homestead and engaged with an elder brother, who was also a cabinet maker, at Norwich, Conn., and here he invented and put in successful operation other machines, useful in that branch of industry. The connection, how- ever, was brief. In the fall of 1836 his broth- er's factory was destroyed by fire arid his em- ployment there came to an end. Strolling about the city of Norwich, Conn., in the fall of 1836, he having been thrown out of work by the destruction by fire of his brother's factory, partly in search of work and partly, it may be, "to see what he might see," he came to the office of the Norwich Courier, then owned by Mr. John Dunham. He had never witnessed the operation of printing and curiosity led him in. Mr. Dun- ham politely received him and, showing him over the premises, explained the various processes connected with the art. Passing from stand to stand, they came to a font of wood type which arrested his attention. It was nine-line pica antique, coarsely cut, and of various imperfections. "How are wood type made?" eagerly inquired our friend. "Are they in general use?" "What do they cost?" etc., etc. Mr. Dunham gave informa- tion to every inquiry, never dreaming, we suspect, that it might be followed by an in- vention scarcely inferior to any ever made in the printing business. Returning home, Mr. Allen, being a cabinet maker, and used to wood work, was im- pressed that machinery might be brought to the manufacture of wood type. His whole soul was absorbed in it and at the end of three days his idea was worked out. A frail machine had been improvised and specimens of type far excelling anything ever before seen, brought to Mr. Dunham for inspection. This was a demonstration and this determined the future of the inventor's career. He returned to the homestead in Windham and erected premises for the new business. Other and better machines were made, patterns of various styles were got up and things generally put in readiness for the enterprise. In the month of March, 1837, he had made such quantities of his new type that he thought it prudent to visit New York in search of a market. So, with a box of specimens in hand, he started for Norwich and, there taking steamboat, the next morning he found himself for the first time in the metropolis of the Union. Hurrying to the nearest type foundry, he boldly entered and asked if they would look at his samples of new type. "We do not wish to buy type," was the reply. "I do not ask you to buy but to examine the specimens I have." "No, sir, we keep type to sell." Surprised and abashed at this reception, he began to fear that he might be bringing coals to Newcastle after all. The Typefounders would oppose him from self-interest. Slightly daunted, however, for he knew he had a superior article, and that it only needed to be known to be acknowl- edged, he determined to call on the printers themselves and see what they had to say of it. And here his expectations were realized. They not only willingly examined his type but expressed the most unbounded admiration of its excellence. Nothing, they declared, had ever been presented in market that could be put in its comparison. Among the printers called upon was Geo. F. Nesbitt. Mr. Nesbitt, who alone was in, received him courteously and entered into many inquiries respecting the new manu- facture. After a somewhat lengthy interview, Mr. Nesbitt suggested an arrangement by which he would introduce the type to the trade of the country. This was accepted and an agreement entered into by which it should be brought out as "Nesbitt's Wood Type," a name which it long afterwards held. Mr. Allen returned to his manufactory. English and French as well as American Specimen Books were procured and such styles as could be made available were introduced into wood. The labor of this was prodigious but it was successfully accomplished and he had the proud satisfaction of its acknowledgment from every source. Mr. Allen's story is one of the tragedies of invention. New and still newer type patterns had to be made for there was no end to the variety that was called for. Horse power gave way to that of water; water, from fatal drought in summer was superseded by steam. Addition to addition became necessary and the various improvements indispensable to developing the business bore heavily on Allen's slender means. Losses in trade also came in their turn. Much was earned but much was also spent. For the rest, the story is soon told. After fifteen years of Herculean labor of head and hand, with varying success, and while a thousand offices in the land were filled and fattened with the product of his toil, he broke down in business in 1852, and the enterprise went into the hands of Mr. J. G. Cooley, who conducted the Printer's Warehouse in New York City, and who later sold the business to Mr. Page of Norwich, Conn., afterwards the Page Wood Type Co. We cannot follow further his honorable and skillful labors. And, we only add, since "reflections are fashionable" — that the experi- ence of Mr. Allen furnishes another evidence that "the path of genius is more often beset with thorns than crowned with flowers." His life, however, was not a failure. He left 10 the world better than he found it. He added largely to its industrial facilities and his name ought to be held in lasting honor by the friends of our own noble art. Mr. J. G. Cooley of- Norwich, Conn., whose father was associated with Mr. Allen in busi- ness, wrote on January 26, 1922: "I am quite sure Mr. Allen's wood-type cutting machine was not patented. It was a modification of the pantograph." Mr. Henry L. Bullen, Librarian of the Typo- graphic Library and Museum of the Ameri- can Typefounders Co., Jersey City, N. J., in a letter dated Oct. 21, 1921, said: "I found in my investigation a reference to these earlier wood-type cutting machines to the effect that Allen's machines were used by Geo. F. Nes- bitt & Co., that they were very similar to those used by William Leavenworth, the only radical change being in the use of a raised pattern by Allen, whereas Darius Wells, a printer of New York, and William Leaven- worth of Allentown, New Jersey, used grooved patterns. Allen's patterns are said to have been less expensive to make and easier to use. Antique, Rose Ornamental Gothic Condensed. Acorn NESBITT'S WOOD TYPE Copied from catalogue of Geo. F. Nesbitt, 1838, showing specimens of first wood type cut by machinery. 11 In 1836 Mr. Nesbitt issued a large specimen book, showing samples of his wood block type and it is claimed that a copy of this book is now in the possession of the Hamilton Mfg. Co., Two Rivers, Wisconsin. . Even after this failure, his mind still worked in the same direction, for while his first inven- tion of wood-type cutting machines was developed in the late 30's we find a patent issued to him in 1854 and also one in 1862, as below, for doing work of a similar character. From Annual Report of Commissioner of Patents Part I, 1854, pages 685, 686 No. 11,922. EdwIn Allen. Improvement in Machinery for Carving Stone. Patented Nov. 7, 1854. The nature of this improvement is set forth in the claim by reference to the annexed figure. (N is the tool shaft.) Claim. The employment, for the purpose of carving stone and other substances, of two pantographs, combined with a tracer U and cutting tool as described, to wit: the panto- graphs being arranged at right angles to each other, and having their main pivots connected or arranged in such a way as to form or be equivalent to a universal joint, and the tool and tracer being suspended from or attached to the Pantograph O P Q R, and passing through sockets in the legs of the pantograph A B C D, whereby the tracer and tool are allowed a universal movement, as set forth. 12 From Annual Report of Commissioner of Patents Vol. I, 1862, page 647 No. 36,884. Edwin Allen, of Newark, N. J. A carriage or movable bed for forming and planing machines. Patent dated Nov. 11, 1862. This invention relates to a method of constructing movable beds or carriages, on which wood or metal is placed to be shaped or otherwise operated upon, so that it can freely and easily move in any direction and at the same time be perfectly solid and steady. Claim. The movable carriage, when con- structed and operated by the jointed levers, in the manner and for the purpose herein above specified. Under Mr. Nesbitt's progressive manage- ment his business continued to prosper and grow and while he was directing its affairs the firm moved into the larger Tontine Building, corner Wall & Water Sts. From 1833 to 1844 they were located at 67 Wall St. In 1844 they moved from this location to the Tontine Building, corner Wall & Water Sts. They were doing business in the Tontine Building in 1845 as stationers and printers and advertised in the New York City Direc- tory English envelopes introduced by James R. Murray, Esq., so it would seem they were not themselves manufacturers of en- velopes at that time or their advertisement would probably have so stated. TONTINE BUILDING Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. Cor. Wall and Water Sts. New York City From the Tontine Buildings they moved to the building on the corner of Pearl and Pine Sts. The date cannot now be definitely determined but probably about 1850, just before the time when they secured the contract for making stamped envelopes for the United States Government. Very early in Mr. Nesbitt's business career as a printer, lithographer, blank book and envelope manufacturer, card manufacturer and stationer, he gave evidence of possessing vision backed up with a venturesome pro- gressive spirit that reached out into the unknown future. The character of his print- ing was such that he might very properly be referred to as the Theodore L. DeVinne of his day. His progressive spirit led him into the envelope business at the very beginning when envelope machines were the crudest of the crude, being entirely foot-power machines ; he reached out into the future and had the nerve and the courage to undertake the execution of a contract with the United States Government for the manufacture of stamped envelopes. Oct. 25, 1852, Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. were awarded the contract but up to that time we find no record that any power envelope machines were in existence in the United States. The first successful envelope-folding machine patented in the United States being the invention of Dr. R. L. Hawes, of Worces- ter, Mass., patented June 21, 1853, and quite fully described in Red Envelope No. 4, February, 1916. Previous to that time various attempts had been made in England to introduce and popularize Government Stamped envelopes; but, owing to the want of proper machinery to GEO. F. NESBITT & CO. Corner Pearl and Pine Sts., New York City manufacture them economically, these attempts had not been successful, but to Mr. Nesbitt this was simply one more problem to solve. It was this last building that witnessed much of the firm's progress. In 1852 the first contract for making stamped envelopes for the Government was awarded to Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. for a term of five years and they continued to be the contractors till 1870, when Geo. H. Reay secured the contract for four years from 1870 to 1874, but on his failure to deliver the goods in sufficient quantities to meet the wants of the Government this contract was annulled on July 16, 1870, and a new contract was awarded to Dempsey & O' Toole of New York, who also failed to furnish the goods and this contract was also annulled. Then Mr. Reay entered into an arrangement with Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. by which the Nesbitt plant would manufacture the envelopes for Reay and a new contract was made with the govern- ment on Oct. 10, 1870, the contract being completed in 1874, at which time the Plimp- ton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn., underbid Geo. H. Reay for the contract for the next four years. This contract was carried out through the joint efforts of the Plimpton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn., and the Morgan Env. Co. of Springfield, Mass. (See Red Envelope No. 14, Oct., 1921), till 1906 when the contract was awarded to the Mercantile Corporation of Dayton, Ohio, who with the Middlewest Supply Co., Dayton, Ohio, have held the contract since. In 1874, after losing the government con- tract, Geo. H. Reay failed and on Nov. 10, assigned, and John S. Graham, of Woolworth & Graham, was appointed Receiver. The conditions finally accepted on Jan. 22, 1875, by Mr. Reay's creditors was fifty per cent, in full settlement and the business was turned over to Mr. Reay to operate, but Mr. Graham as Receiver was not released until Oct. 23, 1875. It is often said, and too often there is truth in the saying, that the National Government is not progressive and lags behind general business and yet, in the matter of stamped envelopes, the Government entered into a contract in Oct., 1852, for the manufacture of stamped envelopes and the first successful jDOwer envelope-folding machine was not patented till the following year. Men were working on the problem but up to that time there had not been produced in the United States a power machine for making envelopes. They were still made almost entirely by hand or with crude foot-power machines. As a silent reminder of departed glory of "The House of Nesbitt," there was hanging on the wall of the building, corner Pearl and Pine Sts., as late as 1912, two faded weather- beaten signs — "United States Envelope Factory" "Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co." The signs showed their three score years of service and the memories of a famous past. 17 With the passing of this firm there was taken from the business life of New York the city's oldest printing establishment and through its long and honorable career there had been woven into its life many threads of the country's commercial history. It was in this old building that one of the earliest city telephones was installed, and its presses were among the first in the world to be driven by electric motors. In the general cleaning out, in 1912, there was lost some of the oldest electrical apparatus in the city — for the wiring that was installed in the early 90's supplied current through the building until the last press had completed the last day's job. What a contrast were the motor-driven presses of 1912 to the old hand-operated printing frames that were used when Joseph Spear began his career one hundred and seventeen years before. The telephone and electric wiring that was installed in 1891 remained in place until 1911, just twenty years. The Nesbitt motor, a 15 H. P. machine, was one of the first large motors on the lines of the old Edison Com- pany, and for many years the firm complied with a rule requiring all power users to cut off their buildings at the close of each day. Every firm using motors designated certain employees whose duty it was to open the switch when the plant was about to close down at night. This switch was located in the basement just where the lines came into the building from the street. The old motor that was installed at that time was used until 1910 or 1911 and from it 18 extended a system of belting and shafting that covered the entire plant. By this means power was conveyed to presses, cutting ma- chines, lathes in the machine shop, job presses, and in fact wherever there was need for power. Quite different were the business methods of those early days — then a messenger was despatched with the quill-scrawled and sand- blotted letter, a process unknown to the present generation, whereas now the telephone conveys most of the 20th century messages or a typewritten note is sent by post, and where tallow dips or oil lamps made it possible for the printers to turn out their rush orders at night, pressmen of a later day worked under the shaded glow of incandescent lamps. The Edison Company was not interested in the making of envelopes nor were^ they particularly interested in the ancient history of printing and envelope making, but they were vitally interested in the story connected with early installations of electricity for light and power. After Mr. Nesbitt's death, April 7, 1869, the business was carried on by his associates. From the American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking, page 389, we quote: "The business is now carried on by James White who was admitted into partnership in 1850, and Edmund F. Martin and Frederick A. Harter, admitted later." The late Edward P. Martin became the head of the firm in 1895, and continued in that position until his death in 1912. 19 Sixty years ago, it need scarcely be stated, there were no printing trade journals to supply historians of a succeeding generation with information as to the relative rank of the masters of the printing craft. But we have the testimony of such news- papers as the Times and the Evening Post that at about the time Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. undertook the government stamped envelopes contracts that the Nesbitt establishment did the largest printing and lithographic business in America. They were also manufacturing stationers on a large scale, printing and ruling all kinds of office blanks and blank books and selling at wholesale and retail office supplies of every description. Just by way of comparison with the present size of business establishments the old record states that the working force of this, one of the largest houses, if not the largest, of its kind in the country, employed about one hundred and seventy-five persons. Such was the organ- ization whose efficiency, resources and ingenuity, the government deemed best adapted to its needs when it cast about for someone to undertake the manufacture of stamped envelopes whose use had been authorized by Con- gress August 31, 1852. F. Nesbitt jt 45 years of age Stamped Envelopes Authorized Act Aug. 31, 1852, Section 8, Vol. 10, page 141 "Postmaster General authorized to pro- vide stamped letter envelopes. Letters when enclosed in such envelopes (with stamps thereon equal in amount to the postage in which such letters would be liable if sent by mail) may be sent and delivered otherwise than by mail under certain conditions." (The above is from the report of the Post- master General for 1888. Abstract of laws relating to the Postal Service in the United States.) Before they were awarded the contract for making stamped envelopes for the Govern- ment in Oct., 1852, Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. had for some years been makers of the ordi- nary envelopes of commerce by hand and by simple foot-power machines, but the re- quirements of the government were special and peculiar and of such volume that it neces- sitated the development of envelope making to a higher point of mechanical excellence than had hitherto obtained in the trade. In the designing of the special machinery em- ployed in making stamped envelopes and in the devising of improvements in various incidental processes of manufacture, Mr. Nesbitt had personally a very large part and "before he died in 1869 he had the satisfaction of seeing this branch of the business grow to such proportions as to require the services of fifty hands." Nesbitt & Co. were one of the early makers of envelopes by hand and, being progressive, 21 were also one of the first to avail themselves of simple foot-power machines. In 1904, the "G. M." had Mr. F. C. Graves, superintendent of the Plimpton Mfg. Co. Division of Hartford, Conn., visit New York and call on Mr. Emanuel Rati, one of the early builders of envelope machinery, to get from him the story of his recollections of the first envelope-making machinery in New York. Mr. Rau gave Mr. Graves a word picture of an envelope-folding machine invented by Gerhard Sickles, which was probably the first machine used by Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. Mr. Sickles evidently took out no patents for his inventions and so has left no trace of his work and the machines having been con- signed to the scrap heap many years ago, no one now living has any knowledge of what they were like. Mr. Gerhard Sickles was located at 374 Pearl St. in 1842-1844 and commenced to make envelopes in New York by hand in the early 40's. Mr. Emanuel Rau fixed the date at about 1843 or 1844. At that time he bought paper by the ream, cutting out the blanks with a shoemaker's knife round a tin envelope blank pattern — the envelopes were ungummed on the sealing flap and were folded by Mrs. Sickles and the children in their home. He was a man of some mechanical ingenuity and naturally his mind was running on a simple machine which could be operated in the home by foot power, which would enable the family to get a larger output. Some Photo of W. W. Cotton's model in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, for which patent 14,625 was granted April 8, 1856. years later he entered into an arrangement with Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. to build for them a machine. Mr. Rau thought this was about 1850 or 1851 and while at work building this machine he had as an apprentice working with him a young man named W. W. Cotton, who afterwards was foreman for Samuel Raynor & Co. and who later invented a power en- velope machine of his own for which he was granted a patent Apr. 8, 1856, No. 14,625. This was the machine used by McSpedon & Baker, who in 1866 or 1868 sold their envelope manufacturing plant to Woolworth & Graham. (See Red Envelope No. 15, January, 1922.) The machine Mr. Sickles built for Nesbitt & Co. was not a power machine. Mr. Rau's description follows : ''The Gerhard Sickles envelope-folding machine had two upright posts reaching from the floor to the roof, to get a brace for steadiness, between these two posts there was a slide motion up and down for the plunger, with a crank motion which operated the four wing flaps, then there was also a foot-power lever motion. An envelope was fed into the machine by hand the same as a printing press was fed, the plunger came down and crowded the blank into the folding box, then the crank motion operated the wing flaps and the com- pleted envelope was taken out of the folding box." Mr. Rau could not remember just how the envelope was taken out of the folding box, but he thought the bottom of the folding box dropped down. Mr. Rau said this was the first machine Sickles built and that he, having learned something in the building of this first machine, later produced another and much better machine run by power, but he could give no description of it. In Appleton's New American Encyclopedia, 1859, Vol. VII, pp. 228-29-30, we find the following : "In the United States hand-made envelopes were first furnished to the trade by Messrs. Bell & Gould and Mr. Geo. F. Nesbitt of New York. The former house afterward ob- tained a machine, contrived by Mr. Gerhard Sickles, which is understood to have done good service, though since surpassed by others of later invention. Mr. Nesbitt was not long in securing another, which in general plan resembled that of the De La Rue machine of London, though much more simple and perfect. In his establishment he employs about eight machines, the capacity of each machine being about 30,000 envelopes per day. The machines occupy but little room, five of them standing as they are worked in a space of about 18 feet in length and less than four feet in breadth. Each one is in an iron frame, about five feet high from side to side, and 16 inches from front to back. The feeding shelf projects in front about two feet more. The power is applied to a driving pulley upon one end of a horizontal axis or shaft along the top of the frame. The pulley is put in gear by placing the foot Upon a treadle at the base, and is thrown out on removing the foot. In the middle of the axis is a crank giving nine inches stroke and carrying the vertically moving plunger. Near the pulley is a cam on the shaft for the move- ments connected with the gumming and at the other end of the axis is the crank for work- ing the various other movements of the ma- chine. The machines are worked by females, one to each. As the foot is placed on the treadle a blank cut by the usual method is laid carelessly upon the feeding shelf. It is immediately taken along and worked into its exact place, and a second is started before the first has reached the center under the plunger. While this is coming down a pair of gummers at an obtuse angle to each other, having 25 received their supplies of gum from the recep- tacle with which they are connected, are brought over the wide back flap and dab a little gum upon the edges of this. The plunger immediately follows and carries the blank down through the opening, which it exactly fits, leaving the flaps standing up. The plunger rises and the two end flaps are pushed over in turn, and upon them the back flap, fastening all three together. The last shutter closes over the front flap, the bottom of the mould falls back upon its hinges and the en- velope falls through into a tin slide, down which it slips into an upright tin box placed to receive them. This box makes a quarter revolution on its axis with every 25 envelopes and these are consequently arranged in the box in piles of twenty-five, crossing each other ready for counting and boxing." This second power machine referred to above was imported from England and was probably the De La Rue machine or another machine following the lines of the De La Rue machine which was exhibited at the Exposi- tion in London in 1851. In connection with the development of the wood-block type business Mr. Nesbitt had become acquainted with Edwin Allen, as described earlier in this article. Mr. Nesbitt knew Mr. Allen as an ingenious mechanic who had been working on machines for feeding paper, and as feeding the envelope blanks to the envelope-folding machines was one of Nesbitt & Co.'s problems in connection with carrying out the stamped envelope con- tract which they were wrestling with and were using some very crude envelope machinery entirely inadequate to meet the demands of their fast growing business, they called upon Mr. Allen for help and engaged him to build for them an envelope-folding machine. Mr. Allen went to Newark, N. J., and in the shop of Ezra Gould he built the first stamped envelope machine for Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. These folding machines had an elevating mechanism for keeping the blanks at the proper height and they also had a printing attachment and device for embossing the stamp. This machine is believed to have been the first so-called "Stamper" or machine for printing, embossing and folding envelopes. It would appear that no patents were ever granted on this Allen machine operated by Nesbitt & Co. and so no patent office model or drawings are available to show what the machine was like and these machines, like the men and women who operated them, have all passed away. For this meagre description we have to depend upon the faulty memory of man. Below is given an illustration of a section of the folding room of Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co.'s factory on Pearl and Pine Sts. These are supposed to be the Allen envelope, printing, embossing and folding machines. This description is reproduced from an article by L. G. Quackenbush in the Philatelic Gazette, April, 1913, taken from an article in the New York Evening Post, Sept. 16, 1861. 27 y 1 % W'f , : t < 4j ^i^jjf/ H ■ A section of the folding room Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co.'s factory, corner Pearl and Pine Sts., New York "A Wonderful Machine" "The final process, embodying all the opera- tions necessary to the completion of the finished stamped and ruled envelope (the ruling referred to has reference to printed lines showing on the face of the envelope to guide the writer in addressing the envelope) is the work of a single machine. "A pile of the sheets are placed at one end of the machine, taken up singly by steel fingers and conveyed by tapes along an iron platform. On the way each sheet receives upon the upper surface the impress of the die and at the same instant the dissolving lines from 28 below, i. e., the ruled lines without apparent detention. "Arriving at the other end of the machine, an iron bar having an end shaped like the folded envelope falls perpendicularly upon the sheet. As it is about to be driven into an aperture of similar shape the gum, which is held in a little reservoir, is applied with such rapidity as to defy accurate observation. The folding is then instantaneously, and we may add mysteriously, completed, the adhesion of the parts is perfected and the envelope passes out between rollers, which press it into an odd and long looking receptacle which, when twenty-five have entered it, make a semi-revolution, thus causing the next twenty- five to lie crosswise, and so on until it is filled. No hand labor of any description is required in the running or management of the machine (of which several are employed). A girl sits by the side of each machine, leaving her place only when it is necessary to carry away the finished envelopes or bring a new pile of paper. It is worthy of remark here that the machine refuses to work the instant when the supply becomes exhausted, or even if by accident the fingers should fail to take up a sheet or by design one were withdrawn." The article in the New York Evening Post, Sept., 1861, says: "The processes of manufacturing and print- ing the envelopes, apparently simple, are very interesting. The work is performed almost entirely by machinery of a most complicated description which has been perfected after 29 years of careful study and experiments by the manufacturers of the stamped envelopes, and is in use." From the fact that this article was written in the fall of 1861 "after years of careful study and experiments, etc.," it wpuld seem that practically ten years of development work on envelope machinery lay behind their equip- ment at that time, and while no envelope makers now living can remember seeing an envelope machine like those shown in the illustration on page 28 from some of the descriptions, particularly the feeding device where "the sheets were taken up singly by steel fingers," and as this was Allen's method of feeding sheets and that this was a number of years after Nesbitt had hired Edwin Allen of Norwich, Conn., to build him a stamping and folding en- velope machine, it would seem to be a fair assump- tion that the machines shown in the illustration are the Allen machines to which the Evening Post article of Sept. 16, 1861, refers. The record says: "Mr. Nesbitt died in 1869, the year preceding his loss of the govern- ment contract, closing a long, prosperous and useful life, and yet he was only sixty years of age when he died. That he was a public-spirited citizen may be known from the fact that he was long Edwin Allen, H Aged 70 years 30 secretary of the old New York Volunteer Fire Department. He was also for some years Adjutant of the Ellsworth Zouaves, which existed as a crack militia corps long before it had its chance to win undying fame in the Civil War. Mr. Nesbitt held a prominent position and played a leading part in the industrial develop- ment of New York City. Operating as he did the largest printing and lithographing plant in this country, making his great con- tribution to the printing art by the develop- ment of the machinery for making wood block type, one of the first manufacturers of envelopes by power-driven machines in the United States. The first contractor with the U. S. Government for making stamped en- velopes, and yet, and yet, the "G. M.," after writing scores of letters and making many calls on individuals, and consulting the libra- ries in many cities, has been unable to learn where or when he was born, and the brief story here told is all the record of Geo. F. Nesbitt we have been able to develop. The name would indicate that he was probably of Scotch extraction and from one source he was told he was a six-foot Virginian, but this has never been confirmed. Truly, this is a forgetful world. Reference as above is made with the hope that some person into whose hands this issue of the Red Envelope may chance to fall can supply the missing detail of his life so that reference may be made to the facts in a future issue of the Red Envelope. The 31 "G. M." will greatly appreciate the courtesy of such information. Geo. F. Nesbitt About 60 years of age Note : A future issue of the Red Envelope will deal with Mr. Edwin Allen's connection with Lester & Wasley, builders of envelope machinery, Norwich, Conn. JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. The Hall-mark of Quality W$t Srin iEttolop? May, 1922 Number 18 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In New York City by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER XIII. GEORGE H. REAY George Henry Reay was born in Droheda, County of Meath, in the north of Ireland, Aug. 31, 1837. He came to the United States in either 1854 or 1855. In appearance he was more Scotch than Irish, as his father came of Scotch extraction. He was a commanding figure, standing six feet three inches in height, and weighing over 200 lbs., with dark eyes and hair, and sandy moustache and beard. Soon after his arrival in this country he called at the factory of West & Berlin in New York City, looking for work and was given a job. Mr. Berlin some years be- fore had bought in France an envelope machine in- vented by Rabbate, being- one of the two envelope machines exhibited at the London Exposi- tion in 1851 and described in No. 5 of The Geo. H. Reay when a young mt Red Envelope (pp. 10 to 12) and while it made envelopes it did not do very satisfactory work, and by its absolute contrariness wore everybody's nerves to a frazzle who had any- thing to do with it. Young Reay wrestled with it for about a year. Then he left the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. and found work in a small envelope factory in Brooklyn, operated by Butler & Bryan, where they were making envelopes by hand. A little later Butler & Bryan sold their business to Mr. Louis Neg- baur. Mr. Reay's mechanical mind was working and while making envelopes by hand he was dreaming of an envelope machine of his own, and Mr. Negbaur, appreciating the mechanical skill of young Reay, entered into an arrangement with him to build an envelope- Patent office Drawing, Reay Machine 39,702, Aug. 25. 1863 folding machine, Reay furnishing the brains and mechanical skill and Mr. Negbaur the funds for its development. While this machine was not an unqualified success, still it was more successful than any envelope machine that could then be bought in the market. This machine was patented Aug. 25, 1863, No. 39702, and the patent was assigned to Louis Negbaur, and the machine was sold to the trade as the Negbaur machine. The arrangement with Mr. Negbaur was not entirely satisfactory to Mr. Reay and eventually they separated; he obtained other capital and completed the development of his machine on his own account and gave to the machine the name Reay, and by that name it became known all over the world, and for many years it led all other envelope-folding machines and after almost sixty years it can with truth be said that while it is a slow ma- chine and not a self-gummer, no machine has ever yet been invented that will fold certain kinds of the higher grades of paper better than the Reay machine. That is the highest praise which can be given the inventor, who was so far in advance of his day. For sometime after his machine was in- vented and put upon the market Reay simply sold the machines which were manufactured on his orders by Rau & Ankele, then by Rau & Ekstine, and later by Martin Rau, but Reay did not manufacture envelopes until sometime after his machines were on the mar- ket. At the time of the Centennial Exposi- tion in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1876, the claim was made that over 600 of the Reay machines were in operation in the United States, Canada and Europe. Later, after the patents had expired, the machines were manu- factured in New York by Emanuel Rau, brother of Martin Rau. THE REAY MACHINE Patent 39,702, Aug. 25, 1863 Mr. Reay also invented and patented one of the earliest accurate and successful count- ing mechanisms for envelope machines, his patent No. 37,199 being granted Dec. 16, 1862. His claim was as follows: "So dispos- ing the envelopes as the same are discharged from an envelope machine that one or more envelopes are pushed out beyond the edge of Furl Reay Counting Mechanism Patent 37,199, Deo. 16, 1862 the regular pile at intervals of 24 or any other desired number of envelopes, substantially as for the purpose herein shown and de- scribed." Soon after he became of age he took out naturalization papers and became an adopted citizen of the United States. He was a mem- ber of the Volunteer Fire Department, running with the engine "Old Maid," and later was one of the Committeemen at the Annual Fireman's Ball. After the last ball the Com- mitteemen kept their gold badges as a me- mento of the grand windup but Mr. Reay's young son lost his father's gold badge, much to his regret. During the Civil War Mr. Reay was rejected because of varicose veins, so sent a substitute in his place. During the draft riots in New York City in 1863, he was located at 7 Spruce St. They barricaded the entrance to the building with cases of paper and armed the working force with muskets to defend the premises. From the above reference to cases of paper it would seem that at that date they had commenced the manufacture of envelopes. After he began the manufacture of envelopes he built up a very prosperous business but he did not accumulate much capital for he was a "Royal Spender" and in those days one of the large "overhead" expenses was for the entertainment of buyers who came to the city — and no man in the business had any- thing on Geo. H. Reay as an entertainer. In fact, in those days "entertainment" was as much a part of the business as operating the factory. Just what year he began to manufacture envelopes cannot now be determined but it is known definitely that he was manufac- turing envelopes for the trade in 1868 and in 1870 he secured the contract for making stamped envelopes for the United States Government for four years, 1870-1874, under- bidding Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. who had held the contract since 1853, but on his failure to deliver the goods in sufficient quantities to meet the wants of the government this con- tract was annulled on July 16, 1870, and was awarded to Demsey & 0' Toole of New York City, who also failed to furnish the goods, and a new contract was entered into with Reay on Oct. 10, 1870, which continued in force till 1874, at which time the Plimpton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn., secured the contract. (See Red Envelope, Oct., 1921, No. 14.) When Mr. Reay on Oct. 10, 1870, was again awarded the Government stamped envelope contract on which both he and Demsey & O' Toole had fallen down, he realized his in- ability to carry out its terms without assist- ance, and he entered into an arrangement with Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. who had been supply- ing the government with stamped envelopes from 1853 to 1870, and while Reay held the contract in his name the envelopes were manufactured in the plant of Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co., corner Pearl & Pine Streets. This contract expired June 30, 1874, and while Mr. Reay had been devoting his time to the government business and to the enter- tainment of visiting delegations from Wash- ington — who when they came to New York practically owned the city — (an expensive proposition) and besides his regular com- mercial business was being sadly neglected with the usual result and on Nov. 10, 1874, Mr. Reay assigned to John S. Graham, of Wool- worth & Graham, for the benefit of his credi- tors. On Jan. 22, 1875, Mr. Reay's creditors agreed to accept 50% in full settlement of their claims and the business was turned back to him for operation but the Receiver was not released until Oct. 23, 1875. During the year 1868, Geo. H. Reay married Miss Marie Antoinette Martine, who had worked for Berlin & Jones in 1863 and who was now his forelady in 1868, and that was one of the best and wisest things George H. Reay ever did for he not only got a good woman for a wife but a wonderfully brilliant business woman. In fact, she is the only woman in the envelope business who has left her mark on the industry, and she is entitled to a large place in the early days of envelope making, for it was always generally understood that for a large share of Mr. Reay's success his wife should be given credit. For the following sketch of her life the "G. M." is indebted to her son, Raphael Martine Reay of Brooklyn, New York. She came of old American stock, French, English and Holland Dutch. She started working to help her widowed mother when a young girl. Marie Antoinette Martine was born in White Plains, Westchester Co., New York, in December, 1838. Her father, John A. Martine, was a farmer of White Plains, New York, a descendant of Jean Martine and Anne, his wife, of St. Nazarre, France, who settled at New Bedford, Mass., 1687, and emigrated to New Rochelle, N. Y., in 1696. Her mother was Miriam Sneden of New York City, daughter of John Sneden, part owner and captain of a ship in the China trade. On Mar. 5, 1868, she "married the boss," as we might say. Mr. Reay died Mar. 14, 1876, 10 and his wife went back to manage the shop at 77 John St., after a rest of only eight years — and by the way, "she was a better man in the envelope business than father ever dared to be." For seven or eight years she fought a hard up-hill fight, defending the Geo. H. Reay patents in the courts against infringers. Mrs. Reay's son, in furnishing the "G. M." with some of this detail, said: "Infringement was a household word in our family during all my boyhood years, and I suppose Marie A. Reay was about as popular down east as Zeppelins were in London during the world war." Mr. Reay died in 1876 when only 39 years of age and from then on the business was carried on by his widow. In 1880 she dis- covered that certain envelope manufacturers were using on their machines attachments which it was claimed were covered by the Geo. H. Reay patents on which no royalties had been or were being paid, and while the patents expired in 1880 she at once brought suit for back damages against two of the largest manu- facturers, and Justice Wheeler of the U. S. Circuit Court made a decision in 1884 in both cases in favor of Mrs. Reay. One of the infringers settled at once but the other fought the decision. Justice Wheeler appointed Timothy Griffin, master to deter- mine the amount of damages to which Mrs. Reay was entitled and in his report he placed the amount of damages at $130,074. After three years more of litigation the case was finally settled in 1887 by a compromise, and while no figures were ever made public, the general understanding was that while the amount finally paid was a very considerable sum, it was materially less than the award of the master, but it brought to an end trying and expensive litigation. The substance of the above statement is from an article in "Geyer's Stationer," March 3, 1887. On Oct. 9, 1855, a patent for a machine for folding envelopes was granted to E. W. Goodale, of Clinton, Mass., No. 13,647, issued Oct. 9, 1855, this being the fourth patent granted in the United States for an envelope-folding machine. This machine was not a mechanical success — it was simply the work of a pioneer feeling his way into the unknown. From all I have been able to learn this machine seems never to have gotten beyond the experi- mental stage. It was simply an idea and there is no record that even one operating machine was ever built. The working patent office model seems to be as far as this machine was ever carried. E. W. Goodale, 1878 when 60 years of age E. W. Goodale was born in Marlboro, Mass., May 25, 1818. One of seven children, he worked on the farm in early life and then learned the machinist's trade, finally becom- 12 ing the foreman over a force of about seventy- five men in the shop of the Clinton Coach Lace Co., Clinton, Mass. He afterwards worked for the Harris Comb Co., Clinton, Mass., making improvements in comb-making machinery. He went west to Clinton, Iowa, in 1868 where he established a machine shop. Later he became interested in a saw mill proposition at Dubuque, Iowa, and was then lost sight of. The story of the E. W. Goodale invention is introduced at this point as it played an important part in the Mrs. Geo. H. Reay patent litigation which was commenced in 1880 and finally settled by compromise in 1887. In the early years of the patent office, an inventor, in addition to the drawings and descriptions of his invention, was obliged to deposit with the patent office a miniature working model of his machine showing just what his machine would do and how it did it, but as the number of patent applications rapidly increased the question of space for the display of the enormous number of models became a serious matter and in 1870 or 1871 the law was changed so that working models were no longer required. The old models which were in the patent office display rooms were allowed to remain until Oct., 1908, when the space being re- quired for the more pressing activities of the patent office the models were boxed up in 2,525 wooden cases and put in storage in the corridors of the patent office building. 13 Envelope-Folding Machine E. W. Goodale Patent office drawing No. 13,647 October 9, 1855 Before this, however, in 1903, the "G. M." having in mind some day to write "The Story of the Envelope" had all the patent office models of early envelope machines photo- graphed so that we are able now in The Red Envelope to reproduce illustrations of these machines which have gone the way of all the works of man. Almost none of these machines are now in existence and no one now living even remembers what they were like. In December, 1903, W. E. Parkhurst, editor of the Clinton Daily Item, Clinton, Mass., in reply to a letter, wrote the "G. M." as follows: "Mr. E. W. Goodale was a relative of mine and as a boy I well remember the amount of talk and work that was put into that envelope Envelope-Folding Machine E. W. Goodale, Patent No 13,647, October 9, 1855 Photograph of model in the Patent office, Washington, D. C. machine to get it into working condition, but it never amounted to anything. "I cannot tell much about it but I distinctly remember one day being asked to come into the room and 'see the animal eat grass,' as the inventor expressed himself. But some- how the animal lost his appetite for grass or anything else, for it absolutely refused to do anything." In acknowledging this letter the "G. M." said from his description of what happened at this demonstration he at once recognized some of the characteristics of even present- 15 day envelope machines, he had many times seen them act in just that way. Mr. Chas. H. Morgan, President of the Morgan Construction Co., and formerly Gen- eral Superintendent of the Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co., Worcester, Mass., which afterwards became one of the subsidiary companies of the American Steel & Wire Co., wrote the "G. M." on Dec. 19, 1903, as follows: "I knew Mr. E. W. Goodale of Clinton, intimately from 1848 to 1860. During two of the first years he was my boss while foreman in the machine shop of the Clinton Coach Lace Co. where I learned my trade as a machinist, and, as my boss, I remember him with feel- ings of kindness. "One of my shopmates, Mr. B. F. Rice, and myself were co-operating in the invention of a paper bag machine. Mr. Goodale became interested in paper bag machinery and the bag machine finally weaned him away from the envelope machine." Mr. Goodale's daughter, Mrs. C. E. Frink, of Clinton, Iowa, early in 1904 wrote as follows : ' ' I was but a child at the time father worked on his envelope machine and while I knew what he was doing, I have no very distinct recollection. I think I am right in saying that his mind running in the envelope direction soon suggested ideas in regard to paper bag machines and as that seemed the larger field, his interest in the envelope machines soon grew cold. I have a recollection of a block of 16 wood the size of an envelope surface fitted with hinges. On this block he would place the cut-out envelope blank and by means of the hinges worked with strings he folded the envelope. "He never wanted to work on his machine unless someone was near to whom he could explain his ideas. If my mother was busy, I, as the oldest child, was pressed into the service. All that was necessary was to sit and listen and appear to understand. As a reward for this service I was often given the block with the hinges and strings to play with." This patent while never operative was finally bought years afterwards (so Mr. Henry C. Berlin of Berlin & Jones Env. Co. told the "G. M." in 1904) to show the "prior art" in their patent litigation with Mrs. Geo. H. Reay. While Mr. Goodale dreamed dreams which did not come true and did not make a success of the development of his envelope machine, he had something to do with the development of a man which was far better, for Chas. H. Morgan, one of his boy apprentices, to whom reference has been made, learned his trade as a machinist under him and he afterwards became one of the foremost engineers in the steel and wire industry of the United States and became the President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the highest honor that can come to an engineer in the United States. During the year 1887 Mrs. Reay sold the 77 John Street establishment to a combina- Mrs. Marie Antoinette Reay wife of Geo. H. Reay tion of envelope manu- facturers. She was told by the spokesman of the committee who called on her that if she did not enter into the arrange- ment which he proposed they would put her out of business by fair means or foul, and she, with her quick, womanly intuition and wit and her sweetest smile (and she had a sweet smile) made reply by say- ing, "Why not try the fair means first?" which resulted in her naming a price for her entire business just as it was, but fearing that the stock would not show as large an inventory value as she claimed, it was agreed that an inventory of stock should be taken and the purchase price would be based on inventory value. So an inventory was taken including as she said, "everything except the factory cat." The result was that she received about $3,000.00 more than her original offer. The expensive litigation to which Mrs. Reay had been subjected during these years of contest in the courts had compelled her to be frugal in her living expenses and when the litigation was ended and she had received the funds in settlement of infringement damages and had in addition received the purchase price for the sale of her business she retired with a modest competence. She had to be both mother and father to her two boys, one of whom died young, while at the same time she had to be "on the job" at the factory during business hours, super- intending the work of the factory and her travelling salesmen. She was always very popular with her salesmen and the trade. She was a "waywise" woman who knew the world in which she had to do business. None other could have given such "fatherly" advice to her growing son Raphael: Tell the truth. Pay as you go. Live within your means. Keep out of debt. Never kiss the maid when you can kiss the mistress. Don't drink beer and whis- key in saloons ■ — it's bad stuff; if you and your friends must drink, do it at home; bring your friends, male and female, I would like to meet them. Mrs. Reay died in New York City, Apr. 24, 1901, and is buried in Kinsico Cemetery near White Plains, N. Y. The following quotations are from a letter dated Sept. 10, 1916, from Mrs. Reay's son, Raphael, in reply to a letter asking for a photograph of Mr. Reay. "I have a photo of father both fore and aft. This was taken for an enamored lady friend who insisted on having his picture, so he gave her one, i. e., showing the back of his 19 Mrs. Marie A. Reay later in life home with you. head, which humor. also shows he had the sense of Geo. H. Reay "aft" "Then there is a family group, Very rare,' as collectors say, of father and mother with other friends. - i& * *' t J ^giAtt hti ■"' v^, um Htf.f 4 \ 11m j.. \ ^-- /n^ *t_ I * Mr. Reay is in the center with Mrs. Reay seated at the extreme right. The gentleman at the extreme left is Geo. F. Nesbitt. The other members of the group cannot now be identified. 20 "I also have the watch and chain which Mr. Louis Negbaur gave my father when they separated — a unique piece, inasmuch as it has never been pawned. I also have an oak club that father took away from a gentleman running with a rival engine company in those good old days of the volunteer fire depart- ment in New York City. "I enclose one of my father's business cards with picture of envelope machine on back (the only one I know of). Let me call your attention to the piano stool of the machine operator. Don't laugh at the poor little corn sheller — it was good in its time. CAPACITY-3,000 per Hour. "I also send the patent papers for an en- velope patented by Geo. H. Reay, design 2137, July 18, 1865, which owing to its volume the heavy parchment sheet measures 20 x 30 inches with steel engraved patent office building, seals, ribbons, etc. It has stood by me in Europe, when a high well-born docu- ment (which officials couldn't read) was needed to smooth the way. It once opened the railroad gates between Pompeii and Castellamare — it's some paper." Mr. Reay's son, to whom the "G. M." is indebted for some of the detail of this story, is an artist, and is also a collector of curios and antiques, and as such has wandered into many of the out-of-the-way places of Europe. In October, 1912, in the city of Hall, near Innsbruck, Austria, while making some selec- tions in the store of a dealer in antiques, he noticed a gentleman and lady who seemed to have an interest in the selections he was making. After having decided on his purchases he left the store, planning to return in the after- noon to complete the purchase, make pay- ment for the goods and take them with him, but when he returned the dealer informed him there were certain articles which he had selected which he could not let him have, and on asking the reason why, the dealer said: "Did you notice the gentleman and lady who were in the store this morning when you were here?" He said he did, but only gave them a passing notice. The dealer then said: "After you went out the gentleman said: 'What was the American buying?' and I showed him the things you had selected 22 and he said he wanted to buy some of them himself and I could not refuse to sell them for that was the Archduke Francis Ferdinand." This was the man and woman whose assassi- nation on June 28, 1914, at Serajevo was (not the cause) but the excuse for bringing on the world war. In Jan., 1867, there was granted to Geo. H. Reay Patent 61,686, for a stamping or em- bossing mechanism. "This invention relates to a machine which is intended particularly for embossing or stamping the blanks of envelopes or other articles of paper, * * * * which can be readily attached to an envelope machine, the cam K in that case being mounted on the main shaft of said envelope machine in such a manner that the blanks for the envelopes while passing from the gumming to the folding mechanism have to pass the stamping and embossing mechan- ism and are exposed to its action." The device was a very simple one and yet a very broad claim was granted on it. The claim reads as follows: "The method herein described of producing the blow required for stamping or embossing consisting of a fly wheel or other equivalent device which after having received an impulse produces the desired action of the punch substantially set forth." The United Stamp Co. Herald of Chicago, Illinois, one of the leading Philatelic publi- cations in the country, said, in referring to this stamping machine of Reay's: "Patent No. 61,686, Jan. 29, 1867, relating as it does to mechanics, would not at first thought have a place in this publication were it not for the name of its inventor, George H. Reay. No finer or better impressions and printing have appeared on envelopes anywhere than upon those produced by Reay during 1870-1874, and it was due to the compar- atively simple mechanism produced by him which gave his work the high character it now sustains." Photograph of Patent Office drawing of George H. Reay's Stamping and Embossing Machine, Jan. 29, 1867. JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. 24 The Hall-mark of Quality ®Jj# Srii lEttolopr June, 1922 Number 19 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope-Machine Building Industry In Norwich, Connecticut by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER XIV. Allen Mfg. Co. 1865 Holmes & Ely 1873 Lester & Wasley 1874 Lester & Wasley Co. 1910 ALLEN MFG. CO. ENVELOPE FACTORY Norwich, Conn.. 1865 The "Story of the Envelope" would not be complete without a chapter devoted to the part taken by Edwin Allen, the Allen Mfg. Co., and their successors, Lester & Wasley, and the Lester & Wasley Co., of Norwich, Conn., in the construction of envelope-making machinery. Edwin Allen,* of the Allen Mfg. Co., Nor- wich, Conn., was a man with a wonderfully fertile mechanical mind. He was granted over forty patents and the field of his studies in mechanical invention covered a wide range of subjects. On Sept. 4, 1840, only four years after the patent office had been made a separate sub- department of the government, he was granted patent 1767 for a "stencil plate;" and showing that his mind was not entirely bound up in machinery problems, in 1849 he was granted a patent for "Improvement in Educational Tables." Besides, he made many improve- ments in machinery for which no applications for patents were ever made. Early in the life of the envelope industry he gave thought to the invention of machinery for making envelopes. Among the many inventions for which he was granted patents are the following: 1854 Machinery for stone carving 1854 Veneer Polisher 1856 Clock calendar (2 patents) *Note: For further detail concerning Edwin Allen, see Red Envelope No. 17, April, 1922. 1862 Movable bed for forming and planing machines 1863 Paper feeder improvements 1863 Gunstock machine (Wright & Allen) (3 patents) 1866 Machine for making envelopes (Patent 57,617) 1867 Drawing and twisting head for spinning machines (Potter & Allen) 1867 Door lock (Allen & Brady) 1867 Mechanical movement 1867 Printing press 1868 Printing press 1869 Envelope gummer (Patent 92,558) 1869 Hearse 1872 Printers' Chase 1872 Feed board for printing press 1872 Machine for feeding envelopes (Patent 133,184) 1873 Clutch 1873 Feed box for envelope machine (Patent 142,606) 1873 Inking apparatus for Rotary printing press 1874 Envelope machine (Allen & Lester) (Patent 153,920) 1875 Wood planing machine (Hills & Allen) 1877 Spool printing machine 1882 Machine for turning spools (Allen & Morrison) 1884 Cutter head (Morrison & Allen) 1884 Spool feeder 1884 Machine for braid rolls Edwin Allen, 1850 39 years of age 1884 Machine for cutting off spool blanks (Allen & Morrison) 1885 Circular saw Edwin Allen was born in Windham, Conn., Mar. 27, 1811, and died in Mystic, Conn., Jan. 4, 1891, aged 79 years. In 1835 he was engaged in the furniture business in Nor- wich, Conn. Later he moved to Glastonbury, Conn., and engaged in the clock business. He then moved to Newark, N. J., still in the clock business. Later he returned to South Windham, Conn., and while living at Wind- ham he made what has been looked upon as his greatest contribution in the line of mechan- ical invention, i. e., the machine for cutting wood block type (more fully described in Red Envelope No. 17). But as so often happens, inventive genius and busi- ness capacity do not always go together and his business venture did not prove suc- cessful and after his failure the plant and equipment went into the hands of Ackerman & Miller and J. G. Cooley, proprietor of the Printers Warehouse, New York City. Mr. Allen was the type of mechanic who was much sought by men who had mechanical Edwin Allen, 1881 70 years of age problems to solve, but who, while they might have an idea, had not the mechanical skill to develop what they had in their minds. (It is claimed that the first velocipede built in the United States was built in his shop at Norwich, Conn.) The firm of Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. was one of the largest printing and publishing houses in New York City and they knew Mr. Allen as an ingenious mechanic, the inventor of the machine for cutting wood type which they used in their printing business. They knew he had also been working on paper feeders and while carrying out their contracts with the government for making stamped envelopes with some very crude machinery, entirely inadequate to meet the demands of their fast growing business, they called upon Mr. Allen to develop for them an envelope-making machine. This was after they had been mak- ing stamped envelopes for a number of years and the business was growing beyond their capacity to produce. Mr. Allen went to Newark, N. J., and in the shop of Ezra Gould he built the first stamped envelope machine for Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. of New York City. These folding machines had Allen's printing press feeding attachment, later covered by Patent No. 39,872, Sept. 15, 1863. In addition they had an elevating mechanism for keeping the blanks at the proper height and they also had a print- ing attachment and the device for embossing the stamps. This is believed to have been the first so- called "Stamper," or envelope-folding machine with printing and embossing attachment and was the forerunner in the development of printing and folding envelope machines — in fact the object lesson to Horace J. Wickham and Edward Pittman in inventing the machines which some sixteen years later they brought out and which were used for so many years by the United States Stamped Envelope Works, at Hartford, Conn., many of which are still in operation in the plant of the Middle West Supply Co., the present contractors with the Government for making stamped en- velopes at Dayton, Ohio. It would appear that no patents were ever granted on the Allen machine operated by Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co., and so no model or patent office drawings are available to show just what the machine was like, and these machines, like the men and women who operated them, have all passed away and for the meagre description that we have we must trust to the faulty memory of man. It would appear that no infringement suits were ever brought against these machines and the theory is that Allen patents on the Rotary printing and embossing press and feeding device was part of their protection and that an arrangement had been entered into by which some of the earlier inventions covered by patents owned by other parties were used in this envelope machine or that they pinned their faith for the protection of their invention on the lock and key. This later suggestion does not seem to be the correct one for had there been no patent protection on this machine it would have been in operation long enough to have made the invention public property and it would have been available for the Plimpton Mfg. Co.'s use in 1874, when they secured the contract for making stamped envelopes; but it was not available and until they brought out the Wick- ham machine they had to print and emboss the envelopes on one machine, the Allen Rotary printing press, and fold them on the Reay envelope machine. In checking up these early patents as to the date when an invention was actually made we labor under this disadvantage. In those early days when the patent was granted it did not give the date when the application was filed, at which time protection began and then as now, while the inventor was perfecting and developing his invention, he held it in the patent office as long as he could so that some inventions being protected by the application were in use years before the patents were issued by the patent office. In an article in The Philatelic Gazette in July and August, 1913, by L. G. Quacken- bush, is shown a section of the folding room of the Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. factory in 1861, in which are shown some of the machines they were then operating with a quite de- tailed description of the machine. No enve- lope makers now living can remember seeing an envelope-folding machine like those shown in the illustration. It is possible that the basis of this machine might have been the foreign machine which Nesbitt & Co. are known to have bought and on which Mr. Allen may have grafted his inventions and improvements. Section of the Envelope-Folding Room Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. The feeding device described is certainly Allen's Improved Paper Feeder, Patent 39,872, Sept. 15, 1863, by which the paper was fed by steel fingers, etc. Mr. Wm. D. Slater, who began in the en- velope business in 1862, and who from 1864 to 1910 was superintendent of the Morgan Env. Co. Div., and who at the ripe age of 83 is still connected with the business, being one of the consulting mechanical engineers of the United States Envelope Co., told the "G. M." in 1921, that Reay folding machines and the Allen Rotary printing and embossing press, nicknamed "The Jumper," which printed and embossed the flat blank, were the basis of the Plimpton Mfg. Co. equipment when they secured the first contract for mak- ing stamped envelopes for the United States government in 1874. They could not procure any of the machines which were operated by Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co., and so had to do the work on two separate machines. Would they have done this if the inventions on the machines operated by Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co. had not been protected by patents? It would seem not, for when this contract was taken jointly by the Plimpton Mfg. Co. and the Morgan Env. Co. they were hard put to for machinery to meet the requirements of the government and ransacked the country to buy such second-hand Reay machines as they could find. While building these machines in Newark, N. J., for Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co., Mr. Allen's mechanical mind had been at work and when this job was finished he returned to Norwich and worked at his trade as a machinist, but his mind was on another envelope-folding machine. In 1865 or 1866 he organized the Allen Mfg. Co. to manufacture the new Allen Rotary Envelope machines for their own use, as they intended to embark in the manufacture of envelopes (Mr. Allen, Mr. John Turner and Gen. W. G. Ely, being the partners in the enterprise) . This new envelope machine was on the rotary principle and comparatively few machines were sold on the market — in fact, few were ever built. FACTORY OF THE ALLEN MFG. CO. Norwich, Conn., 1865 — 1869 Daniel M. Lester (afterwards of Lester & Wasley), then a young man, worked as a mechanic with Mr. Allen in the construction of these machines. One of the Allen Mfg. Co.'s old cutters, Mr. S. H. Mead, who died Dec. 12, 1917, could remember little about the machines except that they were built on the Rotary principle with several plungers and were always out of order (old envelope operators will at once recognize this ancient machine as being of the true lineage of a real envelope machine). Mr - s - H - Mead Allen's cutter, 1878 Mr. M. M. Whittemore, 29 years of age who for many years was treasurer of the Norwich & Worcester R. R. 12 Photograph of Edwin Allen's Rotary Envelope Machine, Model in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, No. 57,617, Aug. 28, 1866 From drawings filed with the application of Edwin Allen, Patent No. 57,617, Aug. 28, 1866 13 Co., when a young man, in Feb., 1868, became a clerk for the Allen Mfg. Co. and for about a year solicited orders throughout New Eng- land for business envelopes with card printed in the corner. While they were manufacturing envelopes Mr. Allen devoted much time to the further Allen Rotary Printing Press, nicknamed The Jumpe development of the Allen Rotary Printing Press, his thought being that by supplying the envelope with the business card in the corner they could develop a large business, but the business world was not yet ready for this innovation and the results were disappointing. The business did not grow; and, becoming discouraged, they gave up the manufacture of envelopes on March 1, 1869, and gave their whole attention to the construc- tion of special machinery of one kind and another, including envelope-folding machines and the Allen Rotary printing machine, one of which, the gift of the Raynor & Perkins Env. Co. of New York City, is now in the museum of the United States Env. Co., at their general offices on Cypress St., Spring- field, Mass. Mr. Allen spent some years perfecting his rotary folder and rotary printing press, and on July 4, 1868, he sent one of each to England for demonstration purposes. It was not, however, a success and finally the machines were returned and broken up. In The Red Envelope No. 7, Chapter 4, October, 1916, much space was given to the reproduction of patent- office models and operative machines with descriptions of the patents granted to Thomas V. Waymouth, which patents had been assigned to the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. of New York City. To make the story continuous we refer still further to the inventions of Thos. V. Waymouth. Waymouth's inventions covered by Patent No. 55,562, June 12, 1866, and by re-issue No. 2366, Sept. 25, 1866, and re-issue 2616, May 21, 1867, had a number of new and orig- inal features, one of which was the blank separator device employed. In the illustration of these three patents Waymouth shows and describes weak springs which bear down on the ends of said blanks 15 causing them to bend as the pickers raised them up. These were simply thin pieces of flat spring arranged to act on the flap of the blanks in exactly the same manner as the separators are now made on modern envelope machines. Folding Bed and Wings, Photo of Thos. V. Waymouth, Model in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, No. 71,252, Nov. 19, 1867 The separation of the blanks was further assisted by means of a revolving brush located at the back of the pile of blanks (see Fig. 5). This brush wheel was operated by means of a belt and as the top blank was raised from the pile the brush wheel acted upon the edge of the blanks so that should more than one blank escape the action of the flat steel separators, the wheel would brush them off and they would fall back on the pile. 16 Patent Office Drawing Separating Device, Thomas V. Waymouth, Patent No. 55,562, re-issue No. 2,366, Sept. 25, 1866 Another feature was the method of gum- ming the seal flaps. Up to this time the seal flaps were gummed by hand by spreading and overlapping the blanks, leaving uncovered that portion of the flap to be gummed, the gum then being applied with a brush just as hand- folded envelopes are now gummed. In Waymouth's patent he covered a sealing device described as below, being claim 6. "Gumming the seal flap of an envelope or similar blank by a gummer which performs the double office of gumming the blank and raising it or holding it stationary in combina- tion with suitable mechanism to receive the blanks one after another after they have been gummed and carry away such blanks so gummed in such a manner that gummed portions will be prevented from lying upon or overlapping each other while drying for the purpose set forth." Photo of Thomas V. Waymouth Model, in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C, Gumming and Printing Machine No. 55,562, June 12, 1866 The above is the basis of all sealing ma- chines, even today this method of doing the sealing would seem to be self evident, but he was granted these broad claims and his claim in the re-issue patent of May 21, 1867, No. 2616, gave the inventor a practical mon- opoly, for his claim 6 certainly covered not only the middle of the road but, in addition, both sides of the road ; and with all the wonder- ful development since then it would be diffi- cult to get past this claim without irfringe- ment. Another novel feature of this inven- tion was a gumming arrangement — instead of having a traveling gum roll the machine had a traveling gum box. This was reciprocated back and forth under the picker so that the metal roll of the gum box came in contact with the seal picker during the revolution of 18 the machine. This, of course, in view of modern development was clumsy and slow but it did the job, even though in a crude way. We need to remember that these early pioneers had no "prior art" to help them. They were laying charts over the then un- charted ocean of invention. They were not improving what some other inventor had done before them. They were creating, as someone has said, "making something out of nothing." Other inventions by Waymouth are described in Red Envelope No. 7, October, 1916. His name appeared in the New York City Directory in 1865 as Engineer, No. 134 Wil- liam St., Berlin & Jones Env. Co.'s address, but in no other year (read page 24, Red En- velope No. 7, October, 1916). It would seem from the meagre records available that soon after the Waymouth patents were issued, Mr. Allen having estab- lished a reputation for building envelope machinery, the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. entered into an arrangement with the Allen Mfg. Co. to build under license the Way- mouth machine which was then known as the "seal flap gumming and envelope-folding machine," and they were building these machines under contract when financial troubles caused the assignment of the Allen Mfg. Co. in the fall of 1873. In 1873 Edwin Allen was granted two patents, both being assigned to the Allen Mfg. Co. No. 138,980, May 20, 1873, for a clutch. No. 142,606, Sept. 9, 1873, a feed box for envelope machines. 19 Late in 1873, the affairs of the Allen Mfg. Co. not being in a prosperous condition, they made assignment to Holmes & Ely who, in turn, on Feb. 18, 1874, sold the plant and equipment to Lester & Wasley, a new firm organized by two young mechanics who had been in the employ of the Allen Mfg. Co. since 1867, and who were giving evidence of mechanical ability. Daniel M. Lester When a young man Daniel M. Lester was born in Norwich, Conn., June 11, 1843. In early life he lived in Patchaug, Conn., but returned to Norwich about 1862 and worked at his trade as a machinist for Willoughby & Crowe] 1, until he began work with the Allen Mfg. Co. He died in Nor- wich, Conn., July 11, 1910, aged 67 years. Mr. Lester represented his district in the Connecticut Legislature in 1887 to 1889. Daniel M. Lester Later in life Frederick R. Wasley was born in London, England, Mar. 1, 1845. His family came to Boston when he was six months old. He learned the machinists' trade at Manchester, N. H., worked in Boston for the Wickersham Nail Co., and when that firm moved to Nor- 20 Frederick R. Wasley wich, Conn., he went with them and later (1867) he entered the employ of the Allen Mfg. Co. He died at Norwich, Conn., Sept. 15, 1910, aged 65 years. Mr. Wasley was a member of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Norwich in 1885-86, when the new firm of Lester & Wasley was organized in Feb., 1874, and^during that year they built stamping presses for the Morgan Env. Co. who held the Government stamped envelope contract. They also entered into a contract with Berlin & Jones Env. Co. to continue to build exclu- sively for them the Waymouth machine under a license from the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. who controlled the Waymouth inventions, patents 55,562 (June 12, 1866), and re-issue 2616 (May 21, 1867), 58,327 (Sept. 25, 1866), and re-issue 2787 (Oct. 22, 1867), and 71,252 (Nov. 22, 1867). Aug. 11, 1874, patent 153,920 was granted to Daniel M. Lester and Edwin Allen, Mr. Allen assigning his rights to Mr. Lester. June 1, 1876, the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. granted permission to Lester & Wasley to build for the Plimpton Mfg. Co. envelope machines similar to those they were building for Berlin & Jones Env. Co. for the additional price of $300.00 each, making the complete price of these commercial machines $900.00 each. These machines were evidently ordered Berlin & Jones Seal Flap Gumming and Folding Envelope Machine for the Stamped Envelope Department which had in 1874 secured the four-year contract from the Government for making the govern- ment stamped envelopes. Nov. 18, 1879, patent 221,835, Apr. 6, 1880, patent 226,331, were issued to Daniel M. Lester for improvements in envelope machines. By this time the Waymouth machine had been materially improved by the work of Mr. Lester, the inventions covered by his patents, besides many other improvements which had not been covered by patents, being embodied in the machine they were then building, and to this new machine had been given the 22 name "The Leader," the first completed machine with the new name having been shipped to the Morgan Env. Co., May 22, 1879. Photo of Allen & Lester Model in the Patent Office, Washington, D. C. for which patent 153,920 was issued Aug. 11, 1874 On Jan. 26, 1880, Berlin & Jones Env. Co. entered into a new contract with Lester & Wasley, from which we quote as below: "Said Lester & Wasley having heretofore made under the said Letters patents held and owned by said Berlin & Jones Env. machinery known as the 'Seal Flap Gumming and Envelope Machine' hereby agrees to furnish Berlin & Jones such machines for use in Berlin & Jones envelope plant at price of $500.00 and $600.00 each. Such machines as sold to others could be sold at increased price and profits divided. Said Lester & Wasley having built an 23 envelope machine embracing or covering all the improvements described in the several Letters patents and specifications referred to in the first and second clauses of this agreement which machine is called 'The Leader' hereby agrees to build such machines capable of making at the rate of 75 per minute to No. 63^2 and 50 per minute to No. 10 and to furnish said improved machines during the term of said agreement to Berlin & Jones for their own use at price of not exceeding $700.00 and $800.00. Sale to others at price to be agreed upon, Lester & Was- ley and Berlin & Jones to divide such profits as agreed. "Lester & Wasley not to build for others except United States Stamped Envelope Works, such fold- ing and stamping machines as they have heretofore sold them, subject now to Berlin & Jones' royalty. "Lester & Wasley to reserve the right to sell them also circular envelope machines such as they have built which fold and stamp envelopes but do not gum seal flap subject to no royalty." Lester & Wasley "Leader" Envelope-Folding Machine 1879 24 Lester & Wasley at that time (1880) were building Pittman envelope machines for the Plimpton Mfg. Co. of Hartford, Conn. While the Lester & Wasley machine has been greatly improved in minor details since it was first put upon the market, it is es- sentially the same machine. From a letter to Chas. J. Cohen, of Phila- delphia, Pa., Jan. 30, 1880, we quote: "In reply to yours of the 29th ordering one enve- lope machine would say we are now building two kinds, one the same as you have at $900 each and our improved machine 'LEADER' at $1200 each for letter size, this machine has a counter attached and is run at the rate of 4500 per hour. We have built fifteen of these machines for the Morgan Envelope Co. of Springfield, Mass., in the past year and they claim to have made as high as 43,000 on one of them in ten hours and that they can easily average 40,000 in ten hours. ..." The builder of a machine who builds for general sale and who does not actually operate the machine is usually at a disadvantage with the manufacturer who builds his own machin- ery. This is particularly true of envelope- folding machinery where so many thicknesses and variety of paper are made into envelopes requiring varied speed, different kinds of gum, and in addition the climatic changes, which have much to do with the successful handling of paper in the operation of envelope machines. On a dry snappy day when there is little mois- ture in the air and paper, the machine may run well, while on the next day when the air and paper are charged with moisture and there is absolutely no life in the paper, the operator will then have all kinds of trouble. 25 In addition, suggestions for improvements in machinery come usually from those who are operating machines rather than from those who are building machinery from drawings — those who operate the machines know the problems to be overcome. The result is that after a machine has been built and installed, usually many adjustments have to be made before the machine is in successful operation. When the firm of Lester & Wasley began to build the "Seal Flap Gumming and Folding Envelope Machine" under the Waymouth patents, the first purchaser, other than the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. who controlled the patents, was the Morgan Env. Co., Spring- field, Mass. (this being their first self- gummer) . This was a most fortunate connection for Lester & Wasley, for Mr. W. D. Slater, Super- intendent of the Morgan Env. Co., furnished the helpful connection between building and operating the machine, to which reference, has been made, and many improvements made in the machine were suggested by Mr. Slater, who, in operating the machines had the practi- cal manufacturing experience which Lester & Wasley lacked, and out of this connection grew a friendship which lasted through life. In a letter to the "G. M." from Mr. Slater, dated Jan. 30, 1916, writing about the early development of the Morgan Env. Co., he said, "About 1869 the business which had grown steadily was moved to the corner of Main and Worthington Sts. More Reay machines were bought and some years later they bought a 26 machine built by Lester & Wasley of Norwich, Conn., under a license from the Berlin & Jones Env. Co. of New York. This was the first self-gummer which we had. While this was in some respects a decided improvement on the Reay machine, when we came to run it, I found a good many particulars in which it could be improved. Mr. Lester used to come to see us frequently and he noted very care- fully the suggestions I made and the improve- ments I had installed on the machines we had bought from them. "Embodying these changes they brought out, in 1879, the 'Leader' machine for which I feel that I am partly responsible." Any person knowing the natural modesty of Mr. Slater will accept this statement at 100% value. In addition the "G. M." can bear testimony when in 1882 he had an order placed with Lester & Wasley for four "Leader" folding machines for Logan & Lowe Env. Co., Wor- cester, Mass. In calling attention to the good points in his machine Mr. Lester acknowl- edged the friendship and helpfulness of Mr. Slater in its development. In the early 80' s Lester & Wasley estab- lished in London an agency for the sale of their machine in the British market and they were having all kinds of trouble on account of the inability of the manufacturers to operate, so they turned to their friend Slater and asked him to go to London to help them out. 27 The correspondence which follows tells its own story. Springfield, Aug. 13, 1885. Friend Lester: Yours of the 12th was duly received. Thanks. I telegraphed you that I would go on the 29th. I don't see how I can come to Norwich unless I go the 28th to New York via Norwich for one of my men is gone on his vacation so as to return before I leave. I want to see you sure before I go, so if I should leave here the 28th I would have four or five hours in Norwich with you and then we can go to New York in the evening. I suppose you know the London party well enough so that you think they would not require anything unreasonable. You know I can put their machine in shape to do as well as yours, everything being equal. Send me name of boat and line that I am to go on. W. D. Slater. The Kirby St. Engineering Works, 31 & 32 Kirby St., Hatton Garden, London, E. C, England, Sept. 12, 1885. Messrs. Lester & Wasley: Gents: I arrived here safe but not very well; had a hard voyage, sick all the time. I find your machine in Lawrence's store. I see no trouble except some adjusting. In this shop there are four new machines which are built in first-class shape but think they have altered shape of cams some, so I have taken the cams you sent over and put them on one of these machines which is a square envelope (our Baronial No. 4) which they said they could not make them drop and I find that when they altered size of machine they did not understand making other nec- essary alterations. I hope to start it in a few hours. This Mr. Rich- mond told Mr. Lawrence that the machines would not last one year running at 100 per minute, so when 28 I had got the new cams on I started it to show the movement and they were very much surprised and were gentlemen enough to acknowl- edge the corn; they were very anxious to know all about the adjustment, etc. I am teaching a young fel- low to run the machine — think he will do well. I have got other letters to write, so I will say no more at present for the American mail closes soon. I shall sail for home on the 29th, probably. Yours respectfully, W. D. Slater. W. D. Slater, 1875 36 years of age London, England. Sept. 16, 1885. Messrs. Lester & Wasley: Gents: Throw your hats up for I have conquered the worst men in London. The facts are there is a party by name of Fenner & Appleton who have a machine of their own which is good for nothing, have been prejudiced against the Leader, saying that they, the envelopes, could not be dropped in the chain at a high speed nor they could not be made to dry, neither could the gumming be done to suit them for they are very particular, but after five days, till twelve o'clock at night, I have succeeded in satisfying them in every particular and they have ordered the machine sent to their place. They were here in this shop (four of them) all the afternoon with all sorts of paper, some of it was very bad, and they were much disappointed that they could not stick me; the d — Yankee was too much for them. I wrote you in my other letter that the machines were well built and finished, many parts being nickel plated, but they did not understand the adjustments, especially the counter, but they are on the right track now and will probably have no further trouble. The party of envelope manufacturers referred to are the ones who Mr. Lawrence wished especially to suit, so I feel that 29 no one will have occasion to regret the expense main- tained in sending me here. I feel, myself, that I shall not rob anyone in accepting what was agreed on, etc. There will be other parties here today to see the machine. Mr. Lawrence says he has four other places for me to go to instruct in running the "Leader." Yours, W. D. Slater. Springfield, Mass. Oct. 12, 1885. Messrs. Lester & Wasley, Gents: I have to inform you of my safe return from London, also that my visit there has been very satisfactory to me and I hope may prove beneficial to you. I will not write at length to you now, hoping to see you here. If you do not think of coming here I will write you all particulars. Please advise. I enclose two letters from parties in London which will explain themselves. Mr. Lawrence has settled with me, it being his wish. Yours respectfully, W. D. Slater. P. S. There ought to be many machines sold in London. Copy of Letter Written the "G. M." by Mr. Slater Springfield, Mass. Jan. 30, 1916. James Logan, General Manager, United States Envelope Co., Worcester, Mass. My Dear Mr. Logan — AN ENVELOPE EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND In 1885 Lester & Wasley established a London agency on Farrington St. for the introduction of their Leader machines to the English market. They had sent over a model machine and a dozen more had been made in London. They were guaranteed to run 4000 per hour and two were exhibited in a Fair at Kensington Garden. 30 Then one day Mr. Lester hunted me up and told me that they were having trouble in making the Leader machines run satisfactorily in London. He asked me if I didn't want to go over and fix them up. I told him I would like to and then laid his proposi- tion before Mr. Morgan, who said, "Go ahead. I'll meet you in London and take you over to Paris." I went ahead but Mr. Morgan was unable to meet me as he had planned. After a rough, eleven-day trip on the City of Chicago, I landed in Liverpool and faced the In- spectors of Customs. Besides my suitcase, I had a bag containing a kit of adjuster's tools, chisels, hack-saw, etc., and a new counting machine which I had just made. My suit-case was quickly passed but my bag was another matter. It was about the time of a threatened Fenian raid on Canada and the inspectors cast _ disapproving looks on the contents of my bag, particularly the counter, but they showed no disposition to examine it closely or even to take it into their hands. They didn't seem quite sure whether I was a Fenian with an infernal machine or an ordinary American burglar. They gave me the third degree — had to know who I was — where I was going — what I was going for, and why I didn't stay at home. I was held in a kind of honorable captivity for three or four hours and then set free, telegrams to London probably establishing the truth of my story. On arriving at London, I found Mr. Lawrence, Lester & Wasley's representative at the Farrington St. Agency and at his instance went at once to the Fair at Kensington Garden. I found the machine on exhibition running less that 8 M. per day. I gave my card to the man in charge, who expressed the opinion that the machine was no good and that no d — Yankee could make it go any better. I said if he would raise the log chain surrounding the exhibit I would like to see what I could do. Before touching it, I had a notion that I knew what the matter was and I found that, as I expected, the only trouble was that the picker did not come down on the flaps with force enough to make a good clean pickup. In less than five minutes the machine was 31 running smoothly at the rate of more than 4000 per hour. When I reappeared at the Agency office, Mr. Lawrence was surprised to see me so soon but de- lighted to learn that the adjustment had been so easy. He introduced me to another machine at his office — the one sent over from our side and that, too, required just the same adjustment. The next morning Mr. Law- rence gathered together Joseph Richmond, the builder of the British "Leader," Sir Henry Waterloo and two other enve- lope makers to whom the new machines had been sold. Richmond was a thick-set, ruddy, John Bull sort of a man with a close clipped gray moustache, wearing an ancient silk tile, at a rake of 45 degrees. Though he had never been at this side, he wanted to "be shown." "Run me just the one ladder full (i. e., chain) of good en- velopes and I'll break the best bottle of wine in London." I put on a cut of flats, started the machine and strolled over to the window. I kept my eye on things a little, though, and saw the machine run every blank down to the very last, without a slip. My popularity was instantaneous and hearty. Rich- mond demanded to know where I was stopping and took me at once to his own home. Sir Henry Water- loo, Mr. Pelton, and the other manufacturers in- vited me to visit their factories. A short time after I did go to Sir Henry Water- loo's and it happened thatl I there saw for the first time a Swift envelope machine. All the Leader machines were easily adjusted — - 1 showed Richmond's foreman how I did it and, I believe, gave entire satisfaction. Yours truly, Wm. D. Slater. Wm. D. Slater, 1921 82 years of age 32 In the preparation of the Lester & Wasley story the "G. M." is under great obligations to Mr. Percival W. Chapman, Secretary- Treasurer of the Lester & Wasley Co., who was born in Norwich, Conn., 1883, and after the death of Mr. Wasley in 1910 he was put in charge of the affairs of Lester & Wasley and when the Lester & Wasley Co. was organized in 1911, he be- came Manager and Treas- urer of the corporation, a position he still holds. Mr. Chapman has been most helpful and unselfish in the amount of time given to help make the record as complete and authen- tic as possible. Percival W. Chapman JAMES LOGAN, General Manager. The Hall-mark of Quality September, 1922 Number 20 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. UNINTELLIGENT COMPETITION A Word of Explanation How This Article Came To Be Published in the North American Review, May, 1901 In January, 1901, I was asked to speak before the class in Economics at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachu- setts, on "Industrial Consolidations." The years from 1898 to 1903 represented the great era of consolidations in industry. A brief notice in the local paper mentioned the fact, which brought from several sources a request to read my manuscript. I then mailed the manuscript to a friend in New York who, when he returned it, said, "Friend Logan, you ought to publish that address; it has good meat in it and there is a lot of worse stuff than that printed." I then said to my wife, "I have a mind to rewrite my address as a magazine article and send it to the North American Review, which is, if not the highest, at least one of the highest grade magazines in the United States and I understand they only accept about one article in fifty that is submitted; and if they do not care to use it, well and good — it will clear some thoughts in my own mind to re- write it." So the article was rewritten and sent on its mission. One evening three of four days later I was called by long distance telephone from New York from the office of the North American Review and I was advised that in the next issue of the magazine there was to be a series of five articles by leading business men, as follows : Industrial and Railroad Consolidations by Russell Sage of New York; James J. Hill, President of the Great Northern Railway ; Charles M. Schwab, President United States Steel Corporation; Charles R. Flint, Treasurer United States Rubber Company ; F. B. Thurber, President United States Ex- port Association; and that my article was very opportune as it seemed to tie in as a fitting final article to the series. The article had been set up in type and a galley proof had been mailed me by special delivery that afternoon, and if it reached me in time, would I look it over, O.K., and return on the midnight mail, as the presses were being held until they received my O. K. This I did and in due course the article appeared. It seemed to have been appreciated, for I received hundreds of letters from all over the country, commending it. It was reprinted in this country in pamphlet form and I under- stand more than a half million copies were printed. It was also reprinted in Great Britain, and over a million copies were circu- lated there. Even now, after twenty-one years, I am continually being asked for copies, which I cannot furnish, it being out of print. Soon after its publication, by chance on the train I met one of the high officials of the United States Steel Corporation, and in discussing some of our common problems he said, "You seem to think -you had a lot of d — fool men in your line of business, but yours is not a circumstance to what we had in our organization." Some of the truths about unintelligent com- petition need to be restated today, and there are few things I would change in this article, so I reproduce it just as it was then written. James Hiooatt. Reprinted From The North American Review, May, 1901 Unintelligent Competition a large Factor in Making Industrial Consolidation a Necessity. By James Logan General Manager United States Envelope Co., Worcester, Mass. The belief is quite general, in certain direc- tions, that all combinations and consolidations are organized to stamp out competition and advance prices unduly. Without doubt, many consolidations have been organized with that end in view, but there are many others which have been organized to correct abuses which, on account of ignorance and lack of intelligence, have become fastened upon many lines of industry and which threat- ened their destruction. The fact is not lost sight of that the promoter has been one of the largest influences in the work of consoli- dation, but ignorant, unequal, even dishonest competition in business has brought many industries to such a condition that manufac- turers were willing to listen to the plans of the promoter, or to any schemes which gave promise of even partial relief. Usually one of the first things done by a consolidation is to revise its price lists. Then there goes up a great hue and cry about trusts, monopolies, sqeezing the public, etc., by ad- vancing prices, as though it were a crime to be unwilling to sell goods at a loss or without a profit. After a consolidation has been brought about, manufacturers have the oppor- tunity to compare notes and see how buyers, through salesmen, have worked one manu- facturer against another, until certain classes of goods have been sold for much less than cost. These low prices have been largely made by ignorant manufacturers who did not know what they were doing; manufacturers who conducted their business by the rule of thumb ; men who had not the capacity even to appre- ciate system, to say nothing of originating it. When consolidations are effected that kind of ability usually goes to the rear and the more intelligent men take control, men who know more nearly what it costs to manufacture goods. And yet, the buyer and the public expect the manufacturer to continue in force the prices made by the ignoramus who has been superseded; and manufacturers are expected to sell at a loss, or without a profit, simply because ignorant, cutthroat competi- tion forced them to do so when they were powerless to prevent it. The consolidation of industrials has made it possible to ascertain how business has been conducted by competing firms, and the methods, or lack of methods, of some have been a revelation. It has been my pleasure to form the ac- quaintance of the managers of no less than six consolidations in different industries, and the experience of one is the experience of all. In some of the companies consolidated, they had never known the cost of manufacturing their goods; there had never been an intelligent attempt to learn the cost. The principle on which they appear to have acted was this : If one manufacturer quoted for an article a dollar, they knew they could make it for less, and so quoted ninety cents. There was an absolute lack of system in everything, save in one particular — their system of price cutting without regard to cost was perfect. Another fact has been discovered in every one of the six consolidations referred to, the firms or corporations consolidated were suc- cessful, prior to the consolidation, just in pro- portion as they adhered to a fixed standard for their goods, giving to their trade exactly what they agreed to give. In other words, the firms which made the best goods had the most satisfactory trade, paid their help the highest wages, and made the most money; and those who made the poorest goods, paid their help the lowest wages and made the least money. It may be asked, why do not firms which conduct their business on this basis fail, and the reply is, they do. This country is strewn with the wrecks of such firms, which fail time and again, compromise with their credi- tors and go on again, to continue their unequal and ignorant competition. One of the hardest problems honest business men have to face is to try to do business in competition with others who own their plant or goods through failure, and compromise at anywhere from ten to fifty cents on the dollar. The ruinous feature of this kind of competition is that other manufacturers and merchants who do know their costs are in a degree forced to travel at the same pace. A manufacturer cannot hope to sell for a dollar what a competitor will sell for ninety cents, not even though the article in question costs, under the most favorable conditions, a dollar and ten cents to produce it. The criticism is often made that in these consolidations the more successful companies are obliged to carry the weaker and poorer ones, and that is in a sense true, but it is not a new condition. The weaker companies have always been a drag on the successful ones. They have been the ones who largely deter- mined the scale in the matter of price and wages, the only difference now being that their power for doing harm for the time being has been somewhat abridged, and in time, with new men in the management of such firms, using new methods, they may be brought nearer to the standard of efficiency main- tained by the more successful firms. If consolidated management raises prices, it also results in raising, establishing and main- taining standards for weight, quality, etc., the standards adopted by the consolidations being a yard with thirty-six inches, a pound with sixteen ounces, and a quality which is recognized as the best in the market. As a rule the consolidation gives to the trade a better article than most of the same manu- facturers previously furnished. I firmly be- lieve that, as a general proposition, business under the consolidation is conducted more honestly, and that the buyer gets more nearly what he buys and pays for than he did when the firms which make up the consolidation were conducting their business as private organizations. The reason for this is not hard to find. The pecuniary benefits which for- merly accrued to the individual manufacturer, from giving short count, short weights and low grade goods, would not now accrue to the men in the active management. Their interests are relatively much smaller than formerly; and human nature is such that while a man may be tricky in his business when that will work to his personal advantage, he will not resort to the same methods if the benefit is to go to someone else. Competition is industrial war. Ignorant, unrestricted, competition, carried to its logical conclusion, means death to some of the com- batants and injury for all. Even the victor does not soon recover from the wounds received in the conflict. We have had in this country great natural resources to develop. We have been for years throwing away more than would today be looked upon in the older countries, and in some lines of business in our own country, as a handsome margin of profit. In manu- facturing industries, one invention has fol- lowed another, in rapid succession, and the margin of profit has been such that it has not been deemed necessary to know exactly what the costs of productions actually were. It has become a commonplace to say that "the wastes of one decade are the profits of the next." In many lines of industry that statement is well inside the truth, but 10 we are approaching a time, if it has not already been reached in some industries, where it would seem as though the cost of production could not be materially reduced by the saving of wastes, or by the invention of improved machinery — the cost of running the machine in some industries being such a small fraction of the total cost that, even though the machine were run for nothing the cost would not be greatly reduced. In the thought of the public these large aggregations of capital are monopolies, but this is an erroneous impression, for there is practically no such thing as monopoly in any of these industrial consolidations. Monopoly presupposes control of the market so that the price of a commodity may be arbitrarily fixed; but, as a matter of fact, that condition rarely exists. Competition may not be so sharp in some industries as in others, so that by com- parison it may seem not to exist; but it is almost never absent as a controlling factor. It does not follow that competition is keen- est where there are the largest number of competitors. In fact, the reverse is more often true than otherwise, for competition among a great many small firms means primi- tive ways of doing and the pace is ordinarily slow. But with large corporations, few in number, and with abundant means to avail themselves of every new invention, with modern, up-to-date methods of doing business, competition is being reduced to a science, and when it has worked itself out the consumer will get better goods for less money than under present ignorant competitive conditions. All the expense incurred in doing business by primitive methods, all the cost connected with doing business at a disadvantage by reason of not being so located or equipped as to be able to take advantage of every geographical and economic condition, all the failures which result from ignorance, dishonesty, incompe- tence are, in the last analysis, paid for by the people. A great many laws have been enacted to control, or at least to partially regulate, these large corporations. The large corporation is here to stay. The business of the world is to be conducted on a large scale and goods must be produced at low cost. Andrew Carnegie was right when he said: "It is not necessary to legislate against corporations. If they are organized on economic principles they do not need to be controlled by legisla- tion. If they are not so organized, the economic laws which govern trade and com- merce and which work as unerringly as the laws of gravitation will take care of them." Never was a larger economic truth more tersely put. There is only one way in which a consolida- tion can for any length of time be successful, and no new principle is being called into being to bring success. It is the same principle whether it be a consolidation of corporations, a single firm, a man or a boy. They must each render exceptional service, if they would succeed. The consolidation must share the profit with the consumer by lowering the price. If it does not, it will fail. The father and mother of the Trade family are Supply and Demand. Their first-born 12 is competition (and he is the legitimate off- spring of these parents). This child being more often than otherwise untrained and ignorant, frequently works untold hardship on the Trade family. Although great harm is done by this untrained and ignorant member of the family, it does not follow that the child should be strangled and put out of the way any more than an untrained and ignorant child in a human family should be so dealt with; but he should be restrained, educated, trained and directed, in order that he may be made competent to do his full share of work in the economic household. His is most im- portant work. The progress of the world in everything has been by keen competition, in schools as well as in industries. Men need the stimulus of competition to do their best. To it we owe our development. It is the fuel which feeds the fire of ambition, and up to a certain point it is a good thing (if the compe- tition is intelligent rather than ignorant) but like almost any other good thing, it can be abused. There must always be competition. To stamp it out, were such a thing possible, would mean stagnation and death. It would mean that there was to be no further progress, and it is no compliment to the intelligence of the business men who have done so much for the progress of the world to suggest even that they are so short sighted as to believe that that programme could be carried out. If there were no prizes to be obtained, men would cease to put forth the effort which makes for progress and growth. If there 13 were no larger prizes ahead of a young man than simply a day laborer's wages, the likli- hood is that a good many would not put forth the effort necessary to become anything more than a day laborer; but because there are prizes to be gained, by competition, men are willing to become practically slaves, to their business or profession and, in gaining those prizes for themselves, they make large contributions to the sum of human progress and happiness. We need competition if we would grow, but it ought to be honest and intelligent competition, and that is not what is being had under conditions which prevail in many lines of industry at the present time. Some months after the consolidation of one of the leading industries in this country, in conversation with a gentleman who was at the head of the Cost Department of one of the firms which had been consolidated (and it was the leader in that line of industry), I learned that an order had recently been sent for estimate to his old company, and that they had figures on the order and lost it, prior to the consolidation. They had known there would be close competition, and they had gone over their cost figures very carefully, putting the price on the lowest possible basis, but when the bids had been opened other bidders' prices were so far below theirs, that they were made to appear foolish. They had reviewed their figures, and could not understand how the party to whom the award had been made could sell the goods without loss at the price at which the contract had been awarded. When the companies were consolidated, the management had taken the order from the branch which had secured the contract, and had sent it for execution to this branch whose figures were so much higher, thereby acknowl- edging that their facilities for doing the work were better than those of the company which had been awarded the contract. A letter was written to the company which had secured the order asking that they furnish the data on which they had based their figures. To this letter they made an evasive reply. Another letter was written, and again came back a letter equally evasive. The matter was then taken up through the Manager's office, and this brought forth a letter which said they had no detail of the figures of their estimate to submit; they had done work something like this, and felt sure they could do this at the price they had submitted and that was all the information that could be obtained. The order was filled at a very considerable loss. Now for the application. The company to which the order was sent for execution had not failed to pay a dividend but once in over thirty years. The company which secured the contract at the low price had not paid a dividend for seven years, and, under existing conditions and management, was not likely to pay one for seven years more. A successful firm is not produced by chance, but by intelligence persistently applied; and this successful firm had made its dividends fully as much by orders which it had not accepted as by orders it had accepted. They knew where profit ended and where loss began ; and when it became a question of paying a 15 customer to do his business, they had let the other manufacturer have that privilege. The competition hardest to meet is not usually that of successful firms, who know what they are doing, but of firms whose busi- ness creed appears to be summed up in the lines of an old hymn: "So on I go not knowing, 'Tis blessed not to know." These are the firms which fail, and whose competition often causes others to fail, and the cause of their failure is largely the result of ignorance of the cost of production to the manufacturer or the cost of doing business to the merchant. For such ignorance, indeed they are, in many cases, not entirely to blame. Men rarely go into business directly from the ranks of industry. The offshoots from the established houses are usually heads of departments, office men, superintendents and foremen, and I suppose it is well inside the truth to say that nine out of every ten such employees, kept in ignorance of the true con- dition of business, believe their employers to be making profits very greatly in excess of the amounts actually made. The great majority of business men en- deavor to keep the details of their business to themselves. They want to have as few as possible of the men connected with their business know the cost of their goods and what profits they are making. The result is that many of these men have no knowledge of the costs of production to a manufacturer, and are wholly lacking in a knowledge of what it costs to do business as a merchant. 16 The point I would make is this: Is it wise to let such men think that the costs of doing business as a merchant are simply store rent and clerk hire, and the costs of manufacturing are simply those larger items, like labor, rent, heat, power, etc., which stand out promi- nently, leaving out of their thought the ser- vices of the proprietor, and that multitude of other costs, many of the items small in them- selves, but in the aggregate the mighty factor which we call "overhead" or "burden" which decides whether the balance is to be on the right or the wrong side of the profit and loss account; to let them go on guessing that the profits of the business are two or three times what they actually are; to keep them in ignorance of the true condition of the busi- ness, which, if known to them, would in thousands of cases remove from them the temptation to start in business for themselves, and thus prevent a large part of the com- petition that kills? Such men are not entirely to blame that they have not the capacity to carry a "Message to Garcia." They have never had an opportunity to do work that would fit them for such service, and their employer often could not carry a "Message to Garcia" either. Would it not be wiser to adopt the other course, to train and educate a man so that he may become more valuable to the firm? A man cannot grow and use good judgment in business matters, if a knowledge of the facts, which is the basis for judgment, is withheld. Men do not expect growth in any- thing else where the means of growth are cut off. Why should they in business? Then, if the man grows, pay him for this increased 17 efficiency, of which the firm gets the benefit; and when that is done, if such a man does go into business on his own account, he will be an intelligent, rather than an ignorant, com- petitor. Statistics are often quoted which show that only a A^ery small percentage of the men who embark in business on their own account succeed — those who have given the matter careful thought say from three per cent, to five per cent. Whether that be correct or not I do not pretend to say ; but this we do know, a large percentage do not succeed. There is a reason for this enormous commer- cial death rate; and in my opinion, one of the chief causes is bad accounting; and, as a consequence, ignorance of cost of production, as a manufacturer, and of doing business, as a merchant. Many men accounted shrewd, having no knowledge of accounts themselves, utterly fail to appreciate the real purpose of book- keeping and accounting, and act on the assumption that any boy or girl just out of school, who can be hired at the smallest salary, and who is wholly lacking in business training, is competent to do their bookkeeping. That might be true if the only function of the book- keeper were to see that sales were properly charged and accounts collected when due. That work is essential and must be done cor- rectly, if one would remain solvent ; but there is another function which is equally im- portant and which is too often neglected. Books of account should be so kept that, at 18 the end of each period, there could be made up a statement of the business in each depart- ment in all its detail, giving the detailed costs connected with the business. It is not enough that these costs should go into a few general accounts. They must be subdivided so that a comparison can be made from year to year. If costs are increasing, the comparisons will reveal the fact; if there are leaks, they will be detected and stopped; but that work requires brains and business training and the salary investment made in employing a com- petent accountant will yield large returns, giving to the management facts, not guesses, in the matter of cost of production. The demands of the new century will not admit of guesswork. The management of the future must have a definite knowledge of the cost of production — not in a vague and general way, but in a concrete and specific way. Success by the rule of thumb has gone forever and in the years to come success will be won only through exact and definite knowl- edge. The manufacturer's endeavor is to reduce the cost of production, but there are two mighty forces at work all the time to reduce the price just a little faster than the manu- facturer can reduce the cost. These are the buyer and the traveling salesman, and they have helped to make consolidations a neces- sity. The manufacturer who is ignorant of cost will usually be ignorant of other conditions connected with his business, and both he and his salesman will be at the mercy of the un- scrupulous buyer. All buyers are not un- scrupulous, and there is something to be said in behalf of the salesman. The writer has been a salesman for over five and twenty years. He has been in the employ of others, and he has for years sold his own goods, so that he is not giving hearsay evidence of conditions. The traveling salesman's burden is not an easy one to bear. From Monday morning till Saturday night he hears one story from the buyer: "He is not in it, not even a little bit," "his prices are not right;" "we have quota- tions much more favorable," "so-and-so has agreed to deliver," "another one will give three months' dating," "at even prices they prefer to give him an order," and so on. Such statements may be true, and they may not. After the consolidation of the company of which I have an intimate knowledge, the corre- spondence which had passed between the several companies and buyers from all over the country was open for inspection; so also was the correspondence sent in prior to the consolidation by traveling men, as to what the other manufacturers were reported to be quoting, and it was a most instructive exhibit. Prices which had never been quoted, and special terms which existed only in the fertile brain of the buyer, had been met by competing manufacturers. Statements were made by buyers as to the volume of their business which were wilder than political estimates made on the stump, and which had been used as a lever to get quotations and terms to which the party making them was not entitled. 20 The salesman's position is dependent upon the business which he obtains. His orders must be obtained from the buyer, with whom he must keep on good terms to obtain orders. In time, he often becomes better acquainted, and on terms of even greater intimacy, with the buyer than with the house which he repre- sents. The result is that pretty much any- thing the buyer asks for he can have. The traveling man will say to his house that he cannot retain the trade unless the concessions asked are granted; and, as often happens, the manufacturer, being known to the buyer only through the salesman, is completely at their mercy, and accepts the conditions laid down. Add to this the fact that the manufacturer himself does not know the cost of his goods; does not know where profit ends and where loss begins, and, of course, the traveling salesman cannot know under those conditions. He more often than otherwise only knows the selling price which has been given him, and, no matter what that price may be, his assump- tion is that it involves a large profit. And when a salesman goes out on the road, even with a schedule of the lowest prices, usually his final instructions from a man who does not know his cost is to "get the orders, and, if it is necessary to cut those prices, to cut them," and with such instructions the prices are cut. There are many large firms and corpora- tions today conducting their business by the old rule of thumb, and that will one day produce their downfall. Not having wrought an intelligent system of accounting while the 21 business was being developed, they now find themselves handicapped by a lack of system and a lack of knowledge of cost, which, with the small margin of profits which must rule for the future, is so essential if a manufacturer would succeed. Worse still, they are handi- capped by a force of men in their several departments who, never having given much thought to such detail, utterly fail to appre- ciate its importance, many of them being now past the time of life when they are willing to learn new ways. Almost every corporation, firm and educa- tional institution, has connected with it a certain proportion of men who act as brakes on the wheels of progress. Being too old to take up new methods, they set themselves squarely across the path of progress, and not only refuse to advance themselves, but make it next to impossible for others to make headway — their argument being that this is the way in which work has been done; these are the methods we have followed for years; they have been good enough in the past, they ought to be good enough now. Many of these men have been connected with the business for a lifetime; and, in their thought, years of inefficient service ought to count as equivalent for efficiency. They have been engaged in the industry so long that they labor under the impression that they know all that there is to be known ; and their very conceit closes up the avenue through which light could and would come to make them more efficient, if they would but let it. Again, there is another class of men who are and have been for years agents, superinten- 22 dents and foremen, who were never fitted, either by natural endowment or acquired ability, to fill such positions. They would never have been selected for their present posts, but in the early days of the business they drifted into their places, and they have drifted ever since. Consolidations are, for the most part, made up of firms which have grown up from very small beginnings. Twenty-five years ago it was exceptional for factories to begin with any considerable working force. They usually started small, and, from time to time, as the business increased, added to their plant. Now that has been all changed, and a plant is created in three or six months which starts fully equipped and capable of turning out a product as large as that of firms that have been working to build up a trade for a score of years. The agents, superintendents, foremen for such new plants, usually being drawn from other going concerns, are selected because of their fitness. The old method was very different. For example : In an office a young man was hired as bookkeeper, and he did pretty much all the office work that was not done by the pro- prietor. In time, as business grew, another clerk was hired. In the course of years the office staff had grown till there were a dozen clerks, and the man who chanced to be the first has been promoted at different times until he came to be the agent or superintend- ent. But he had stopped growing long ago, and simply held a position which he never 23 filled. His being there, however, had pre- vented someone else from filling it who could and who, had he been given the opportunity, would have rendered a larger service. Had the inefficient man been set aside and the progressive, efficient man put in his place, the business would, perhaps, have been saved from bankruptcy, and instead of the com- pany dying of dry rot, it might be giving employment to hundreds of other employees. This illustration applies with equal force to many of the departments connected with almost every manufacturing establishment. The management of the consolidation is severely criticized because it refuses to be handicapped by such men, and in making changes it often works hardship to the individ- ual, but continuing an inefficient man in a position which he did not fill wrought hard- ship to the efficient man who was kept out of it, and also to hundreds of employees who have been deprived of work which the other man's ability would have provided. So that the hardship is not all on one side. Consolidations have closed factories and have thrown many faithful and efficient employees out of work. But every failure through such inefficiency as has been described has done the same thing; and, in many cases, had the consolidation not been brought about, failure would have been the next step. Then again, owing to antiquated equip- ment, poor management or economic condi- tions, it is simply impossible to operate some factories except at a loss; and even though the consolidation had not been consummated 24 many factories which have been closed by the consolidation would have been closed by the operation of economic law. The final result has simply been anticipated a little, and not a great while either. A gentleman who was connected with a line of industry which had recently been brought under consolidation said to me that the con- solidation had discharged three men, and that he was now working four times as hard as he did formerly. I suggested that a man was somewhat better than a machine and more was expected of him; but that, if he had in his factory a machine from which he could get only twenty-five per cent, of efficiency he would throw it into the junk heap, and if he, as a man, drawing a good salary, had been only rendering twenty-five per cent, of his efficiency, he, too, was entitled to a place in the scrap heap. In this day and genera- tion, twenty-five per cent, of efficiency means to step out and give someone else a chance, who can and will work at higher pressure and render larger service. The question is often asked, "What effect will these consolidations have on the wages of the workman?" Many express fears that they will operate to his disadvantage. I do not share that feeling. I believe they will eventually work to his benefit. The fact is abundantly proved that firms managed with- out system or intelligence usually pay the lowest wages. There is a reason for this, which is not hard to explain. They pay their work- men the lowest wages and produce inferior goods, sell their goods at cut prices, without 25 regard to cost, and in a large degree establish the price at which other manufacturers, who pay better wages and who make better goods are forced to sell theirs. Their business, hav- ing been conducted without system, at the close of the year may have shown a loss or, at least, did not show such a margin of profit as they expected ; and they could not see their way clear to raise the price. That is one of the last things a company conducted on the basis suggested considers; for here comes in the salesman, who says, "If you do that I cannot hold my trade." The cost must be reduced; but how? Then begins a series of haphazard figuring on very imperfect and incomplete data. Where can saving be effected? Some costs are definitely fixed. Those cannot be changed. Interest, in- surance, rent, power, heat, light, taxes, etc., must be paid, and at the fixed rate. Towering high above all these items of costs stands the pay roll. That must be cut down. The cut is made and they start out once more to carry on for another season the same abomin- able business methods, and force other manu- facturers, who want to pay good wages, to cut down the pay of their operatives in order to compete with them. This ignorance in the management reacts with mighty force on the working men and women in the factory under present conditions. Recently a gentleman, when asked if he were going to send his boy to college, said that he did not intend to, that his son was going into business and did not need it. There was but one inference to be drawn from this man's remark, and that was that a business 26 man today could get along with less brains and a poorer equipment than is necessary for a lawyer, doctor, professor or minister of the gospel. No thinking man would agree with that proposition. A man, to succeed in busi- ness in the new century, must have the best equipment that a broad and liberal education can give him, for the great conflict to be fought in the opening years of the new century is an industrial one. Some men sneer at commercial education. The suggestion that business can be taught in a school seems to them foolishness, their claim being that there is but one school in which business can be taught — the School of Experience in the great University of the World, where men are brought into contact with actual business conditions. That line of reasoning is not logical when applied to other professions. As well say that the teacher, minister, physician, lawyer, soldier, must be taught in the School of Experience. Formerly, the divinity student studied with a minister, the medical student with a prac- tising physician, the law student read law in the office of some eminent lawyer, the engineer and mechanic were taught in the shop. While fully appreciating that kind of practical and personal instruction, men recognized its limi- tations. In each of these professions they felt the great lack of scientific training, and out of the consciousness of that need there has been evolved "a more excellent way" and the Divinity School, Medical School, Law School, Technical School, West Point and Annapolis have come into existence. 27 In a large sense it is true that nothing can ever take the place of contact with conditions as they actually exist in the world's school of Experience; but if the training of the pro- fessional schools fits a person to do his work more intelligently in the professions referred tc, is it not a logical conclusion that, in the field of business, men can be trained in the fundamental principles which will enable them more intelligently to wrestle with the mighty problems which confront the captains of industry at the opening of the twentieth century? Institutions of learning will in the years to come, through such departments as the Tuck School of Commerce at Dartmouth College train men in the principles of business. But the instruction will not be all given by professors whose knowledge of business and of business conditions is gathered from books. There will be brought into this work, I believe, men who will contribute of their knowledge gained in contact with the world of business, and who will give that service as other men give money. JAMES LOGAN, General Makaber, 28 H ^ggg^ The Hall-mark of Quality Sljr fob lEnfotope June, 1923 Number 21 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In New York City by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company, Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER XV. (Continued from No. 18) 'THE HOUSE OF RAYNOR" 1818—1923. R. Bartlett 1818 R. Bartlett & S. Raynor 1835 H. & S. Raynor 1837 S. Raynor 1847 Lyon & Raynor 1856 Samuel Raynor 1858 Samuel Raynor & Co. 1862 Raynor & Martin 1888 Raynor Envelope Co. 1892 Raynor & Perkins Env. Co. 1896 Much of the detail connected with the beginning and growth of the Raynor envelope business was given the "G. M." in 1903 by Wm. P. Raynor, son of Samuel Raynor, who in 1897 prepared a brief historical sketch of the life of their firm on which he drew for his facts while giving the "G. M." the details of this sketch. In the year 1818, a small stationery store was established at 76 Bowery, New York, by Richard Bartlett, from which small beginning, through the changes of the years, has grown the present business of the Raynor & Perkins Envelope Company, now located at 220-224 William St. In these early days it was the custom for merchants to use only their initials in doing business, instead of the full name, as at present; and this custom prevailed until late in the fifties. The business was a small one, in the beginning, and consisted mainly in the manufacture of blank books, playing cards and legal blanks. Small though it was, it grew to be well known throughout the city and state, where many of the large mercantile houses depended upon it for their stationery supplies. Samual Raynor was born in the year 1810, in the town of Hempstead, Long Island, and came to New York in the year 1822 to make his way in life, at the early age of twelve, a poor boy, the youngest son of a small farmer, two older brothers had already preceded him. He early acquired a name for industry and integrity, and at the age of twenty-five, he associated himself as partner with Mr. Bartlett, under the firm name of R. Bartlett & S. Raynor. The concern continued to prosper and largely increased their trade, adding to their business by the sale of school books, supplying all the most important schools in New York and the neighboring States of Connecticut and New Jersey. At the death of Mr. Bartlett in 1837, Mr. Raynor associated with himself his older brother, Hiram, under the name of H. & S. Raynor; he continued at this same stand until 1847, when Mr. Hiram Raynor, contented with a moderate compe- tence, retired from business at the age of forty-five. The establishment was continued thereafter by Mr. Samuel Raynor alone, and in Feb., 1858, Mr. Raynor moved to 118 William St. Until the year 1856, they did not manufacture envelopes but sold envelopes made by Mc- Spedon & Baker (See Red Envelope No. 15, Chapter IX). . With a desire to still further enlarge his business, Mr. Raynor bought an interest in the envelope firm of Chas. H. Lyon & Brother, which firm was established in 1853. The firm now became known as Lyon & Raynor, and was located at 27 Beekman Street. In the fall of 1857 or 1858 the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Raynor continuing alone. It would seem from the meagre records that the partners simply separated and after the separation each operated his own plant. The envelope business was still in its infancy — the folding was done almost entirely by hand. Their first machines were invented by W. W. Cotton, who was a foreman in their factory, the fifth patent granted on envelope machinery in the United States having been issued to him, and all we have to show us what the Cotton machine was like is a photograph of the Patent Office model. Photograph of Patent Office Model of W. W. Cotton Envelope Folding Machine 14,625. April 8, 1856 The cutting presses were mounted on wooden frames and were very crude affairs. Envelopes being made by hand, a large part of the cost of an envelope was for manual labor. In the summer of 1858, the White & Corbin machines, invented by Milton G. Puffer, were first placed upon the market and Mr. Raynor gave an order for twelve machines at $500.00 each, of what were then called fast running machines, making about 1,300 per hour, one operator sealing the flaps for two machines, thus making the average completed product about 900 envelopes per hour per employee. These machines were built at Pawtucket, R. I., but were never wholly satisfactory. A loft at 75 John St. was hired, from which an opening was made through the wall into the William Street store which enabled them to have communication with the factory. An Ericsson motor, invented by the man who designed and built the Monitor which fought the Merrimac in 1862, was put in, and with this equipment, what was then thought to be an establishment of the highest grade, was soon in successful operation. With the outbreak of the war in 1861, the demand for goods of all classes had been very largely increased and it was necessary to add more folding machinery. Improved cutting presses were also purchased and a larger force was employed to meet the largely in- creasing demand. About 1856 there came into the employ of Lyon & Raynor a young man by the name of Raynor Life Willi Irwin Martin William Irwin Martin, who was born in New York City, Dec. 16, 1836, whose early school- ing was received in the schools of Rahway, N. J. He continued with Samuel Raynor when Lyon & Raynor dissolved partnership, and in 1862, with Mr. Raynor's son, Wm. P. Raynor, was admitted to junior partnership in the business. William P. Raynor The business soon outgrew the contracted limits of the John and William Streets establishment, at which time Mr. Raynor bought the four-story building, 115 William St., adding a story to make it more fully meet the demands for space. The business was removed to the new location in the spring of 1865. In March, 1888, Mr. Samuel Raynor died, the result of exposure contracted in the great blizzard of March 12th. The business having been dissolved by the death of Mr. Samuel Raynor, the firm of Raynor & Martin was formed by the surviving partners in April following, who continue until Jan. 1, 1892, when the Raynor Envelope Co. was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, at which time Mr. Martin retired from the business. Mr. Martin was in the army a short period during the Civil War. He also served in the New York National Guard for about ten years and later was Colonel of the Veteran Association of the 23rd Regiment, National Guard of the State of New York. He served as President of the Stationer's Board of Trade and was a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Martin died at Cranford, N. J., April 6, 1901, aged 64 years. Mr. Samuel Raynor went to his grave honored by all who knew him. He was the type of a man whose character could secure a million of J. Pierpont Morgan's money if he had not a dollar of his own. Wm. M. Perkins was born in New York City, Dec. 18, 1858, coming from good New England stock, his ancestors being among the founders of New London, Conn., 1636. He entered the employ of J. Q. Preble & Co., Feb. 2, 1874, having just graduated from the Yonkers, New York, High School. He remained with the Preble Co., until their failure in December, 1889, and on May 1, 1890, he organized the Perkins Envelope Company. On Jan. 1, 1896, the Raynor Envelope Co., and the Perkins Envelope Co., were merged under the corporate name of Raynor & Perkins Envelope Co., with the Perkins interest in control. In 1900, Mr. Perkins bought the Raynor interests. Mr. Wm. P. Raynor died, April 17, 1911, 73 years of age. William M. Perkins William M. Perkins 1876 — 18 years of age Later in life We now turn to the manufacturing side of the Samuel Raynor Co. development. In those early years they were fortunate in having in their employ an ingenious Englishman, Mr. James Ball, who was born in Lancaster, Lancaster County, England, Sept. 9, 1838. He was the son of a cotton dresser and was in early life apprenticed to the machinist's trade in a cotton mill in Manchester, England. He came to America, the land of promise and opportunity, in 1858. Photograph of Patent Office Model of James Ball Envelope Folding Machine, No. 78,353, May 26, 1868 On the first day of his arrival at Castle Garden, New York, he obtained work in a machine shop where they made and repaired a very crude machine for making envelopes. He was there but a short time when his ability was recognized by Wm. P. Lyon & Bro., New York, manufacturers of envelopes, whose machines he had been repairing, and he was by them soon hired as superintendent of their shop. The machines on which he worked are supposed to have been the Puffer envelope machines to which reference was made on page 15, Red Envelope, No. 12. We have the record that Mr. Raynor had bought a battery of twelve machines in 1858 from White & Corbin, of Rockville, Conn. Mr. Ball became superintendent for Samuel Raynor Co. in 1865, and at once began to make improvements on the machines he was operating, at the same time dreaming of a future Ball machine. We find the first patent issued to James Ball to be No. 78,353, May 26, 1868, and we are able to show a cut from a photograph of the Patent Office model. Patent Office Drawing James Ball Envelope Folding Machine, No. 78,353, May 26, 1868 Description of the James Ball Envelope Machine The Ball envelope machine, shown in Patent No. 78,353, May 26, 1868, is interest- ing because it is probably the first attempt to develop the screw dryer. The envelopes were discharged from the folding box as a result of the dropping of the box, in the way that is being followed even now, but instead of dropping into a chain dryer the envelopes were projected between the blades of two endless screws. Ball could not use the drying chain with fingers such as is now in use without infringing the Waymouth patents controlled by Berlin & Jones, so he had to find something else. These screws, by means of their slow revolution, gradually carried the envelopes downward to within a few inches of the floor where they were removed from this set of screws and pushed by means of a conveyor into another set of screws in front of the first set and nearer to the operator. This pair of screws revolved in the opposite direction to the first mentioned pair. Therefore, the envelopes were gradually raised. When they arrived at the top they were projected out onto a table to be collected by the operator. In reading over the claims of this patent it seems strange that Ball did not get broader protection; in other words, that he did not combine the features of, we will say, gumming the envelopes, folding and drying them in the same machine. However, the Waymouth patents which were issued several years earlier probably precluded this, and therefore Ball was limited in dryer claims, as shown, for instance, in claim 9 : "The spiral carriers, 0, to carry the enve- lopes along and retain them free from pressure until the gum has dried, when arranged substantially as described." This would seem to cover the spiral carriers pretty broadly. We think, however, this patent was of little importance, for spiral carriers have never proved practical. The spiral carrier has no method of retaining any pressure on the envelopes to hold the flaps together while the gum dries. For this reason the chain dryer was much better. When Ball invented the first machine with the spiral carriers he could not get within the limits of space between the folding box and the floor sufficient time in which to allow the gum on the sealing flaps to dry, so a hole was cut in the floor and the spiral screws carried the envelopes down to the floor below, one operator feeding the machine on one floor and another operator taking the folded envelopes from the screws on the floor below. Later he improved his machine by the addition of another set of spiral screws turn- ing in the opposite direction, thus bringing the envelope back to a position in front of the operator. It is this improved machine which is shown in the patent office drawing. At the Centennial Exposition at Philadel- phia in 1876, the Samuel Raynor Co. placed on exhibition the Ball Envelope folding machine, built by Martin Rau of New York, and this machine was awarded the gold medal for "quality and regularity of output." James Ball Centennial Machine exhibited by Samuel Raynor & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.— 1876. Patent 78,353, May 26, 1868 Mr. Ball remained with Samuel Raynor Co. till 1882, when he became superintendent of the Holyoke Envelope Co. of Holyoke, Mass. This company was organized by Geo. N. Tyner, and James T. Abbe, in 1881, their first superintendent being Mr. Wm. D. Slater, who, after a year with the new com- pany, returned to his first love, the Morgan Envelope Co. of Springfield, Mass., where he has ever since remained. Mr. Ball remained with the Holyoke Enve- lope Co. until 1893, when, being in poor health, he resigned his position and returned to England, where he died on Aug. 20, 1900, aged 62 years. James Ball, 1863 2 5 years of age James Ball, 1893 5 5 years of age From 1868 to 1893 there was granted to Mr. Ball fourteen patents for improvements in envelope folding machines, all but two of which were issued after he made his connec- tion with the Holyoke Company. While with the Holyoke Envelope Co., Mr. Ball built several machines and pretty much all the machinery at the plant was built under his general direction. Among the machines built was a self-gumming-folding and printing machine, all being done at one operation. During all the years he was associated with the Holyoke Envelope Co. he had an able and competent assistant in Mr. John Vines, who is still in the employ of the United States Envelope Co. Mr. Vines was born in Clettham, near Gloucestershire, England, July 20, 1854, and came to the United States in 1878. 16 John Vines 21 years of age John Vines 68 years of age Mr. Ball left two sons, both of whom were connected with the envelope business, the late James E. Ball and George Ball, who has been connected with several Philadelphia envelope plants. 17 The Beginnings of J. Q. Preble & Company Envelope Manufacturers New York City CHAPTER XVI. J. Q. Preble was born in Bowdingham, Maine, Feb. 12, 1826. His parents moved to Millville, Mass., where his early years were spent. In 1844, when he was eighteen years of age, the family moved to Worcester, Mass. He worked for about a year in the book bindery of Jonathan Grout on Main St. He then worked for A. C. Beaman on Main St., making perforated cardboard, which was used for making mottoes worked in with colored yarns, the old "God Bless Our Home" being one of the standards. Mr. Beaman sold his business to Towne & Dodd, young Preble going with the business and remaining with them about a year. Mr. Beaman had a brother who was in the fancy goods business in Oconomewoc, Wis., and recognizing the push and energy of young Preble, who was in delicate health at that time, and believing that the change would be beneficial, he secured for him a position with his brother in the west as manager of his store. At this time he was between 22 and 23 years of age. The small western town did not appeal to 18 him as a permanent home and he soon returned to Worcester and entered into an arrangement with Mr. Beaman to control the sale of his entire product, thus becoming a traveling salesman on his own account. Soon after this he began the manufacture of fancy specialties of one kind and another, one of his specialties being school Reward of Merit cards which many of the older people will remember. He also included perforated cardboard for mottoes such as he had been selling for Mr. Beaman and Towne & Dodd. Sometime between the years 1849 and 1851, he moved his small manufacturing plant from Worcester, Mass., to New York City, con- tinuing to manufacture his regular lines. He soon added the manufacture of blank books, acquiring the blank book business of L. & E. Edwards, of Norwich, Conn. The manager, Mr. Jarvis M. Fairchild, went with the business when it was transferred to New York and continued as a junior partner and manager of the department for many years. A little later the manufacture of embossed envelopes was added. Mr. Chas. H. Lamport, who was born in Warsaw, Yates County, New York, in 1832, being the manager of the envelope department, and with David W. Robinson were junior partners in the firm. Mr. Lamport continued in the company till 1877, leaving the Preble Co. to take the management of the J. G. Shaw Co., Blank Book manufacturers. Later the name was changed to the National Blank Book Co., which was later moved to Holyoke, Mass., and has had a most successful history. Mr. 19 Lamport died in New York City in 1898, aged 66 years. In those early days these embossed envelopes were cut with a die as Chas. H. Lamport When a young man. Chas. H. Lamport Later in Life they now are, then they were fed through a printing press to receive the embossing design (usually a spray of flowers) in the upper left corner. These envelopes were considered simply as a novelty, being largely for ladies' use and relatively the demand was limited. The day for commercial enve- lopes was just beginning to dawn. This was before the day of power envelope machines, even the first crude power envelope machine had not yet been invented. The work was largely done by hand though there were in operation some small footpower envelope machines. The blank being placed on the folding block and then the folding flaps were operated by foot power, the folded envelopes being removed from the folding block by hand. The flaps of these envelopes were not gummed, the wafer still being used to seal the envelopes. 20 • It was from this idea of the embossed envelope that a few years later there was developed the embossed initial stationery which was so common in the early days of the business. The business continued to grow and in 1903 Mr. Preble told the writer that as far back as 1853 his company, then the largest envelope manufacturers in New York City, were making by hand 175 M. envelopes per day, operating three small factories in different parts of the city. The firm of Bell & Gould were at this date also makers of envelopes by hand in a building on Beekman St., on the present site of the New York Tribune Building, the Preble Co. being one of their largest customers. Alexander Stephen Gould was born in New York City, corner Wall & Broad Streets, Dec. 1, 1808, and died in New York City, May 15, 1877, aged 69 years. For a time he edited the Paterson Courier in Paterson, Alexander Stephen Gould In Middle Life Alexander Stephen Gould Late in Life 2 J N. J., and after his marriage to Mary Reid he returned to New York City and from about 1851 , for a number of years, was engaged in the envelope business in that city. Bell & Gould were operating some very crude envelope machines which did part of the work but Mr. Preble could remember nothing in regard to these machines except that they did fold envelopes in a very crude way and his recollection was that the machines were fed by placing the blank on the envelope form by hand, the same as a job printing press was fed, and then working the folding flap wings by foot power. In correspondence with Miss Irene Gould, of Redbank, N. J., daughter of Mr. Alexander Stephen Gould, she developed through a distant relative this fact about the machines operated by her father, that they were small portable machines and stood on the top of the table or work bench. Bell & Gould had been doing for the time a very prosperous envelope business, but Mr. George H. Bell, feeling that he had acquired a competence (modest man), sold his interest to Mr. Gould for $10,000.00, and leaving active business he retired to his farm in New Jersey. Mr. Gould continued the business under the management of his son, W. Reid Gould, law blank manufacturers for many years, as a stationer, corner Beekman & Nassau Streets. Eventually the business was acquired by Mr. Preble. In a short time the factory was moved to 25-27 Beekman St., where it remained until the Civil War broke out in 1861. 22 In a letter from Mr. Preble, Mar. 15, 1904, he said, the machines bought from Bell & Gould were built by Gerhard Sickles, but we have not been able to learn anything about Mr. Sickles except that he built these ma- chines and that he once worked for Geo. F. Nesbitt j. q. Prebie, about 1880 & Co., in the construction when about 50 years of age f envelope machines. There is no record that Mr. Sickles ever made application for patents on any of his inventions, so the early steps of this pioneer in envelope machinery invention have with the passing years been obliterated. In those early years of industry in this country, practi- cally in all lines of development, inventors were very suspicious and consequently very secretive. They had little faith in patent protection and for that lack of faith they cannot be blamed. Many of them believed then, as some manufacturers still believe, that the best protection on an invention is eternal vigilance plus a lock and key. Even James Greene Arnold, of Worcester, Mass., the inventor of one of the first envelope machines in the United States, described in Red Envelope, No. 9, Chapter V, while a patent solicitor himself, did not take out patents on either one of the two envelope machines which he invented. He evidently preferred to take his chances behind a locked 23 door, so far as protecting his machines were concerned, but he patented the envelope which, when out in the market, would be available for inspection by everybody. In Appleton's Dictionary of Engineering, 1867, Vol. 1, page 615, they say of Bell & Gould's envelope machine — "The only Amer- ican machine in practical use is one secretly used by Bell & Gould, Nassau St., New York, but we are unable to give any details respect- ing it." This statement is not historically correct, for the R. L. Hawes envelope machine was patented in 1853, the first successful envelope machine granted a patent in the United States. (See Red Envelope, No. IV.) The Puffer envelope machine was in operation as early as 1854 (See Red Enve- lope, No. XII). The Arnold machine was in operation but not very successfully as early as 1853-1856 (See Red Envelope, No. VII) and the Reay envelope machine was patented in 1863 (See Red Envelope, No. V). In 1861, the Preble factory was moved from 25-27 Beekman St. to 54-56 Franklin St., and 77 White St. This factory was completely destroyed by fire on July 3, 1887. J. B. Sheffield & Son, of Saugerties, New York, had been one of J. Q. Preble & Co.'s sources of supply for paper both for the blank book and envelope departments and now that the New York plant had been completely destroyed and it was necessary 24. to make a new start from the foundation, an arrangement was entered into between the Preble and Sheffield interests to consolidate and erect new factory buildings adjoining the plant of the paper mill at Saugerties, N. Y. Accordingly two large buildings, 50x170, four stories, were erected and plans were laid for further expansion, should that be found necessary. Wm. R. Sheffield managed the manufacturing departments of the mills at Saugerties, Fairchild and Walter E. Preble superintended the commercial end of the blank book and envelope depart- ments in New York. Mr. Preble's son, Walter E . Preble, who was born in 1860, was admitted to a partnership in the business in 1886 and was assistant to his father in the active management of the busi- ness. By 1889, the burden of the debt brought about through extensive borrow- ing to cover the costs of the expansion of the Saugerties business had accumulated to a point that made it unbearable. Walter E. Preble 1888 They had borrowed heavily and learned to their sorrow, when too late, that giving notes and signing acceptances did not settle obliga- tions and the collapse of the expanded enter- prise followed. Under a plan for the reorganization of the Sheffield & Preble interests, August 5, 1890, the Sheffield Mfg. Co. was incorporated with Wm. R. Sheffield as President, and Mr. Preble retired from the business. The entire equipment of the Preble Co. having been destroyed in the fire of July 3, 1887, the new factory at Saugerties, New York, was equipped with envelope machines called the "Reliance." These machines were built in Buffalo, New York, by Vloker & Felthousen, under the direction of Mr. Louis P. Bouvier, who is now the senior member of the firm of Bouvier & Hutchinson, of Toronto, Ontario. In 1892, the company went through another Reliance Envelope Machine, Side View 20 reorganization and was incorporated as the Saugerties Mfg. Co., and under the able management of Mr. H. Gillespy has been very successful. In 1907, the Saugerties Mfg. Co. retired from the envelope business, selling their machinery plant to the United States Enve- lope Company. Mr. Preble died in New York, June 23, 1909, aged 83 years. Mr. W. M. Perkins, of the Raynor & Per- kins Envelope Co., began work for the J. Q. Preble & Co. in 1874, and continued with them until their failure in 1889. Reliance Envelope Machine, Front View From J. Q. Prebie Co., 1907 27 The following year he organized the Per- kins Envelope Co., which, on Jan. 1, 1896, was consolidated with the Raynor Envelope Co. (See Red Envelope, No. 21, Chapter XV.) JAMES LOGAN, General, Manages. 28 H ^sIsW The Hall-mark of Quality ®fje Srtu lEttfolop? February, 1924 Number 22 F PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry in Buffalo, New York by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company, Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER XVII. In looking up the beginnings of a business when almost all of those who had a part in that beginning have passed away, it is not always possible to separate legends from historical facts and errors are bound to creep in, but it would seem as if the first envelope factory in Buffalo was in operation in 1863, for in the Directory of that year we find this advertisement : The Buffalo Paper Warehouse & Envelope Manufacturers E. R. Jewett & Co., 188 Washington Street, Buffalo, N. Y. The attention of the trade is directed to the new branch of the Buffalo Manufacturing, having an entirely new machine of very recent invention, capable of double the amount of work per machine, over any now in use, and having the advantage of pro- curing paper at the manufacturers' rates. Our facilities for manufacturing of envelopes are such as to enable us to def}^ competition. We propose to manufacture and keep on hand all the leading styles of envelopes of all grades and shades. We invite careful comparison of both goods and prices with those of eastern manu- facture, and we feel confident that we can make it an object to dealers to purchase our goods. Samples and price lists will be sent on application. E. R. Jewett & Co. The envelope machine referred to is doubt- less the Reay envelope machine, that being the only envelope machine then in the market. In 1864, a man named Vandome or Ven- dome, who had been an envelope cutter in New York City, came to Buffalo and asso- ciated himself with a man named Charles Prosser and started in the envelope business, using the Reay folding machine. This was the second envelope factory in Buffalo. In 1865, John E. Marshall purchased Prosser' s interest and continued the business with Vandome, and about a year later he acquired Vandome 's interest. One of the specialties which they manu- factured under their patent was the Marshall Double Fold Safety Express envelope. In 1880, John E. Marshall failed and his brother Charles D. Marshall took over the business which was operated for quite a good many years under the name of the Niagara Envelope Company. In June, 1908, the es- tate of Charles D. Mar- shall sold the Niagara En- velope Co. to F. H. Fisher and F. G. Pierce, and it is now being operated by them under the original name. The third envelope fac- tory in Buffalo, N. Y., charies d. Marshall was operated by Wm. H. Bork, who manufactured envelopes in connection with his book-bindery. On the death of Mr. Bork, his nephew, Mr. M. M. Bork, operated the plant for some time, and on March 4, 1911, he sold the plant to Ailing & Gory, who are operating it at the present time. The fourth envelope factory in Buffalo, N. Y., was started in 1888 by Edwin L. Burdick, who had been previously employed in a lithographic establishment. His com- pany was called the Burdick Envelope Co. In February, 1895 ; they had a fire which practically destroyed the plant. They sal- vaged what they could of the machinery and reestablished themselves at the corner of vS. Division and Ellicott Streets, and chaneed the name to Burdick Envelope Mfg. Co. In about three years they moved to 45 N. Division Street and about 1901 Mr. Risley Tucker bought a half interest from Mr. Burdick and the name was changed to the Buffalo Envelope Company. There was a Toronto, Ontario, man, a paper ruler by trade, by the name of E. W. Blackhall, who, with a machinist by the name of Robert Anderson, built a few envelope machines in Buffalo, and this was the machine operated by the Burdick Envelope Com- pany, but the machine was never much of a success and few machines were ever built. In February, 1903, Mr. Burdick was mysteriously murdered. Soon after this Mr. Risley Tucker bought from the Bur- dick estate the balance of the stock, and in March, 1903, Mr. Fred McB. Dorris asso- ciated himself with Mr. Tucker. On July 1, 1919, Mr. Fred McB. Dorris and G. L. Reineman acquired the interest of Mr. Tucker and have continued the business under the same name, Buffalo Envelope Company. In 1872, Mr. Louis P. Bouvier, now of the firm of Bouvier & Hutchinson of Toronto, having served his apprenticeship as a machin- ist, entered the employ of Ray & Taylor, paper collar manufacturers, at Chicopee, Mass., and remained with them about two years. When he was employed by the Morgan Envelope Company under Mr. W. D. Slater, he remained with them till 1876. He then went to Berlin & Jones, of New York City, remaining there about a year, returning to the Mor- gan Envelope Co., where ? . 1 -11 t\ t -i nrrn Louls P- Bouvier he remained till May, 18/9. , n 1880 . 3 o years of age . He then had an opportunity to go to Toronto, Ontario, to start the Barber & Ellis Company in the envelope business and while working for them he designed the "Reliance" Envel- ope Machine. It was this machine with which J. Q. Preble Co., of New York, was Louis P. Bouvier Envelope Machine, Patent 422,286, Feb. 25, 1890. re-equipped after their fire in 1887. These machines were built in Buffalo by the Volker & Felthousen Co., Mr. Bouvier superintend- ing their construction, going from Toronto once or twice a week for that purpose. In 1902, Mr. Bouvier started in business for himself and at the ripe age of 72 is still in active business. In 1883, Mr. Bouvier built for John Dickinson Company, of London, Eng- land, the Reliance Ma- chine, which was installed at their mill at Boxmore, England. In 1902, he built for the Dickinson Company four more ma- chines, since which time the Dickinson works has been thoroughly equipped with the Bouvier machines. Louis P. Bouvier 1923 — Aged 72 years One of the principal features of the Re- liance Envelope Machine was what is known as the wipe seal, i. e., the picker which dis- tributed the gum on the sealing flap as it left the paper gave it a wiping motion. In December of this year Mr. C. W. Iliff, the manager of the Boxmore works of John Dickinson Company, paid a flying visit to Canada and the United States and when in Toronto called on Mr. Bouvier and was de- lighted to meet the man whose machine they were operating. He said the girls in their factory who operate these machines are known all over the works as the "Bouvier girls." JAMES LOGAN, General, Manager. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry In Philadelphia, Penn. by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company, Worcester, Mass. CHAPTER XVIII. In the decade of 50's a factory for making envelopes was established by two men by the name of Tobey. Samuel Tobey Caleb S. Tobey Envelope Manufacturers, 233 South 5th Street, Philadelphia. Their plant was on Fifth Street, east side, below Walnut. Of their machinery (if they had any) little is known at the present time but they had a large number of dies and did much work by hand. On the death of the surviving brother the plant was sold and distributed. W. E. and E. D. Lockwood, in the early '60s, were installed in a large building, No. 251 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, where they were manufacturers in a large way of paper collars, the consumption of which during the years of the Civil War was enor- mous. About this time they decided to enter into the envelope business and they bought or constructed envelope-folding machines known as the Pette machine, which was the invention of S. E. Pette of Philadelphia. His first application for a patent being for a side-seam envelope for which he took out a patent March 22 . 1859, and it was this envelope he made on his machine. On May 29, 1860, he patented the machine for making this envelope, being numbered 28,537. This machine cut the envelope from a con- tinuous roll and was made with the seams at each end, and was of course a self -gummed envelope when completed. Robt. Parks' Envelope Patent 56,325 July 10, 1866 Messrs. Lockwood entered into the manu- facture of envelopes with their accustomed energy and ability and created a large market for their product. They also manufactured in a large way all sizes of open-end envelopes which found a ready sale in the notion trade. After the death of the surviving brother, Mr. Charles Lockwood, the envelope ma- chinery was disposed of and they then gave their attention to the manufacture of folding boxes. On July 10, 1866, Robert Parks, of Phila- delphia, Pa., a young and ingenious mechanic, patented a machine for making an improved envelope and assigned all his rights to W. E. and E. D. Lockwood and E. J. Spangler. The gumming and drying portion of the machine was invented by John Armstrong of Philadelphia, Pa., and was patented in 1862. The completed machine may be said to be the combined invention of S. E. Pette, Robert Parks, John Armstrong, and John W. Cooper, _ all their improvements increasing the efficiency of the machine. On January 29, 1916, Wm. Peterman of the Lockwood Folding Box Co., No. 509 South 44th Street, Philadelphia, wrote me that John Armstrong and Robert Park took out patents which were grafted on Pette's machine. Mr. Park afterward worked for E. J. Spangler & Co. as a machinist and adjuster, also building machines for them for which patents were issued. He died some years ago. Description of the Lockwood Envelope- Folding Machine exhibited at the Centen- nial Exposition in 1876, by the Lockwood Mfg. Co., Philadelphia, Pa. As these machines have gone the way of all works of man, none being now in existence, this description, taken from the official re- port of the Exposition, will no doubt be of interest to the men of the present generation. Another great source of public attraction is the Lockwood Manufacturing Company's very perfect and interesting machinery for making envelopes. Let us take a look at the machine itself. The paper from which the envelopes are cut is fed into the machine from large rolls after the fashion of news- papers which are printed from the web, the web in the case of the envelopes, however, being kept slack. On being drawn into the machine by rollers the paper is caught be- tween two side guides controlled by springs, which keep it always in the center, but have sufficient expansive power to allow any inequalities in the edges of the paper to pass. The paper then passes under six knives, hanging from a cross-head frame, which has an up-and-down motion, which cut the corners for folding, etc., before it comes under the operation of the creasers. Two of these creasers turn over the side edges ready for pasting and the third makes the crease which is to form the bottom edge of the envelope. The edges of the envelope next pass under 12 two small and narrow rolls which are governed by cams. The rolls being fed with paste from tubular reservoirs above, paste the edges of the paper where desirable, the action of the cams causing the rolls to jump the parts where no paste is wanted, or rather where its absence is necessary. Passing on, the half-made envelope is struck by a second set of knives, three in number; of the two, the first one cuts off the unnecessary edge of the overlap and the other cuts out the shape of the cover. The third knife, which is heavy and blunt, catches the envelope at the creased line which is to form the inside of the bottom edge, and drives the envelope down between two rollers, in passing through which the envelope is folded and the side edges are firmly pasted together. The envelopes are caught in endless tapes, which are carried by a series of slowly revolving wheels. Each envelope laps closely over the one behind it, thus the only portion of all the envelopes which remains exposed is the three-eighths of an inch of the inside cover, which has to be gummed so that the envelope can be sealed when it is used. These tapes carry the envelopes around one large wheel forty inches in diameter, and thirteen smaller ones, each thirty inches in diameter; these wheels, over which the envelope passes on its back being cut out so as not to interfere at all with the drying gum. As the envelopes pass over the large wheel they are struck by a flat revolving brush which is fed with gum- arabic from a roller revolving in a reservoir, and which transfers it to the envelopes, gumming some half a dozen of them at each 13 revolution. Immediately above, the envel- opes pass under a fan, which has an exceed- ingly rapid revolution, the action of which gives it a great tendency to dry quickly on the paper. And then the envelopes go on their long journey around the thirteen smaller wheels, being perfectly sound and dry be- fore they reach the last one, and entirely complete with the exception of folding over the gummed cover. On leaving the last wheel the envelopes pass into a machine which performs this very service and then slides them over plates into brass boxes placed at intervals around a revolving carriage plate, in which they are automatically counted. On its way to the boxes the envel- ope passes, as I have said, over a plate. This plate has two holes in it, in which two expanding punches work with a vertical motion. If an envelope skips, the punches descend through the holes, but as no expan- sion takes place they return without having added to the count. When, however, an envelope is on the plate, the punch expands and the pressure depresses the plate. The plate has a connecting rod governing the shaft, to an arm on which a pawl, working in a ratchet, is attached. The depression of the plate thus reacts on the pawl and, tooth by tooth, at every stroke of the arm, the ratchet revolves. The ratchet, however, has a heavy dog attached to it, opposite its twenty-fifth tooth and the machine is so arranged that when twenty-five envelopes have passed between the plate and the expansion punches, the dog shall strike, in passing, a cog on the vertical shaft which carries the revolving carriage, on the plate of which the brass envelope boxes are placed, and give just a sufficient turn to bring the next box into position. As fast as the envelopes are re- moved from the brass boxes the ordinary fastenings are bound around them and they are packed away in large boxes. This ma- chinery is built in the machine shop of the Messrs. Lockwoods, and is the result of ten years of patient labor, both of brain and muscle; it attracts vast crowds of people, mechanics among the number, who seem to be fascinated by its automatic working powers. The following report from the pen of Sir Sydney H. Waterlow, of London, England, is high praise indeed. At his request the full jury of award inspected the machinery, and unanimously confirmed his report. The United States Centennial Commission has further approved and confirmed the same by awarding a first class medal and diploma. "Automatic Envelope Machinery, Messrs W. E. and E. D. Lockwood, Philadelphia. Deserving great commendation for origin- ality of design and construction. The only machine exhibited that cuts the envelopes from the web of paper. It produces the envelopes complete and ready for use, at the rate of 120 per minute — on an improved economical principle . ' ' . In the American Machinist of February 24, 1921, were "Reminiscences of an Old Ma- chinist," by R. Thomas Huntington, and as he makes brief reference to experiences at the plant of W. E. and E. D. Lockwood, we quote : — "I eventually secured employment with the Lockwood Manufacturing Co., manufac- turers of paper collars and cuffs. Not a promising place for a young machinist, you will say, but the mechanical interest was supplied by two brothers named Packer, who had patented and were building a ma- chine for making envelopes for the Lockwood Company. This machine I helped to finish and put into successful operation, as well as four succeeding machines that not only cut, pasted and folded the envelopes but stacked them in packets of 25 each, put a paper band around each packet and put the packets in a box ready for shipment. "The superintendent of the Lockwood plant, one of the most efficient superintend- ents I ever saw, was a woman, whose name I have forgotten. She had all the details of the business well in hand and managed the several departments so well and so unob- trusively that there was never any friction or misunderstanding. She did not remain long after I went there, however; she resigned to get married and her place was taken by a man, who, though professing to know it all, was far from being as capable as she. "This man was the cause of the brothers Packer closing out their machine shop at the Lockwood plant and moving elsewhere. It was nearly a year before they again be- came established and in the meantime I had to have a job, which I soon found at the plant of Samuel Merrick & Son, known at that time as the Southwark Foundry." 1(3 Philadelphia and Reading R. R. Stationer The Red Envelope has sailed into many quiet harbors and there have come back to the port of embarkation many words of appreciation. It has caused busy men to turn back the leaves in the book of memory. One such letter comes from Mr. Louis F. Beneke, Stationer of the Philadelphia & Reading R. R., from whose letter we quote* — "I have certainly enjoyed reading the last issue of the Red Envelope, No. 12, from your 'G. M.' "I well remember years ago we had envel- opes made at a local factory in Philadelphia in blank (i. e., plain) and we then sent them to the printers. It was the idea of 'yours truly' to have them printed when made. "I also distinctly remember that the printer who formerly had the contract for printing all these envelopes here in the city threatened not only to give me a licking for taking the business away from him, but actually one day just missed me with a nice upper cut when the matter was under discussion." E. J. Spangler & Co., having an interest in the envelope machine operated by the Lockwoods, began the manufacture of en- velopes in 1860. The company was com- posed of Christian P. Spangler and his two sons, E. J. Spangler and Charles Spangler. 17 Christian was born in Lebanon County, Pa., September, 1809, and died in Merchantville, N. J., February, 1885. He was brought up on a farm and came to Philadelphia in 1834 and engaged in the dry goods business. He was one of the first directors of the Penn. R. R. E. J. Spangler was born in Philadelphia, 1841, and died in Philadelphia, 1897, and Charles Spangler, his brother, was born in Philadelphia, December, 1843, and died in Philadelphia in April, 1897. After the death of Christian, the two sons took over the business; and on the death of Charles, his brother, E. J. Spangler, bought his interest and became the sole owner, and on his death the business was operated by his widow up to the time of her death in January, 1901, when her two daughters succeeded to the business. The business was originally located at 507 Minor Street (now Ludlow Street). The business was incorporated in 1904 and the name changed to E. J. Spangler Co., and in 1906 it was removed to its present quarters, 1237-1249 N. Howard Street. 18 The House of Cohen In the decade between 1840 and 1850, Henry Cohen, father of Charles J. Cohen, was in Paris and was shown a novelty con- sisting of what we now know as an envelope; it was made of tinted paper, with an un- gummed flap rather well cut, banded in twenty-fives, packed in ornamented, fancy pasteboard cartons of one hundred envelopes, or four packs of twenty-five each. The envelope itself was cut by a die, but all the other processes were done by hand, and with the usual French neatness that has always prevailed in goods made in that country. The price appeared to be excessive so that only a very small quantity was or- dered, but on their arrival in Philadelphia they were eagerly absorbed and repeat orders soon established an excellent business. In the decade beginning with 1850, Henry Cohen realized that the article could be readily produced in the United States, and he thereupon equipped suitable quarters in a building on a small street running north of Chestnut and east of Fifth, adjoining a colonial building which had been occupied for very many years by Sully, the famous artist and portrait painter. After some years the premises were found to be too restricted, and in 1859 the building at 507 Chestnut Street was secured for the general wholesale stationery business. 19 " ™-^™* ~* , liirl ■ — 1 i II 4 ■ 1 Office and Warehouse, 42 North 4th Street, afterwards renumbered 58 North 4th Street. Henry Cohen to 1859. Mr. Cohen rented rooms in a building on Minor Street, the next street north of Chest- nut, the rear of which opened into a court- yard known as Crockett's Court, private property belonging to the Ridgeway estate. In these rooms the making of envelopes by hand was carried on, on a proper scale until the year 1862, the superintendent being a man by the name of Balmain, a typical Scotsman both in appearance and language. 20 Building on left-hand side is envelope factory, Crockett's Court above Fifth Street, rear of Nos. 511-513 Chestnut Street, Phila- delphia. Henry Cohen, 1862-1870 Charles J. Cohen, 1870-1895 The grated windows facing are of the Bank Building, fronting on Chestnut Street ad- joining on the west. In 1862, it was found necessary to produce a larger quantity and at minimum prices in order to meet the demand and requirements of the trade, hence a four-story building on the above named Crockett's Court was secured with the intention of establishing a steam power plant. The late Dr. Benjamin Rush who was interested in the property through his association with the Ridgeway 21 family, inspected the building and refused to permit the introduction of a boiler on the ground of the great risk of explosion. After much debate it was agreed that a special vault should be constructed in the court- yard where the boiler might be placed, and where for many years the motive power was produced. The latest machinery available at that date was introduced, the pattern being known as DufT Envelope Folding machine, where a girl sat in front feeding the envelopes and the other girl sat at the back picking them up, banding and boxing. DUFF & KEATING, Patented Feb. 1, 1859 [From an old advertisement] A few years later the self-feeding envelope machine was introduced, made by George H. Reay of New York, but it was not until early in the seventies that the Allen self- ■2 2 gumming and folding machine, predecessor of the Lester & Wasley machine, was ob- tained. A number of these latter were in- stalled and did excellent work, gumming the envelope on the flap and at the same opera- tion attaching the gum to the lower wings, so that the envelope was gummed and pasted down at the one operation. In 1873, Mr. Allen, who was then living at Norwich, Conn., perfected a press for print- ing envelopes in the cut-out blank, the prede- cessor of the modern automatic printing press. The feeding was arranged with fine steel points like a series of needles, which lifted the envelope from the pile of blanks, and carried it through to the cylinder on which was fastened the printing plate. The work done was excellent, but the stationers and printers were not ready at that period to make use of the minimum prices that were offered for the printing of envelopes, and in fact it was a number of years before it could be demonstrated that the printing of envel- opes by this process was desirable both as to appearance, execution and cost. Charles J. Cohen was born in Philadelphia, September 21, 1847, in a house on the south side of Chestnut Street above Broad, where the Land Title Building now stands. His father, Henry Cohen, throughout his career in Philadelphia, enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, occupying positions of honor and trust. In 1862-3 Charles J. Cohen visited Eng- land, remaining there for nearly two years 23 attending school. On his return to this country in 1863, at the age of 15, finding that his father was in failing health, he entered the establishment and, when of age, became a partner in the firm; his father, Henry Cohen, retiring in 1871. Henry Cohen Chas. J. Cohen Mr. Charles J. Cohen is still actively engaged in the business. The Wolf brothers started in the envelope business in 1879, they having been previously engaged in the printing business. JAMES LOGAN, ■ General, Manager. 24 The Hall-mark of Quality March, 1924 Number 23 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Beginnings of the Envelope Industry in Worcester, Mass. (Continued from Red Envelope No. 4) by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company, Worcester, Mass. Russell L. Hawes 1853 Hartshorn & Trumbull 1857 Trumbull, Waters & Co. 1861 Hill, Devoe & Co. 1866 W. H. Hill W. H. Hill Envelope Co. 1892 W. H. Hill Envelope Co. Div. (United States Envelope Co.) 1898 CHAPTER XIX. (Continued from Red Envelope No. 4.) In No. 4 issue of the Red Envelope, Febru- ary, 1916, Chapter 11, on pages 17 to 23, refer- ence was made to the beginnings of the W. H. Hill Envelope Company. It was at this plant that the first successful envelope machine was invented in this coun- try and built (for detail see Red Envelope No. 4, pp. 17 to 23). Below, we show photo- graph of one of the young mechanics who assisted Mr. Hawes in its construction. William Lawrence 24 years of age William Lawrence 80 years of age Mr. Lawrence located the date when he was working with Mr. Hawes on this machine as July 14, 1852, that being the day Holy Cross College, at Worcester, was burned. We also show the picture of Lorenzo Bingham, the blacksmith, who forged the first envelope-cutting dies for R. L. Hawes, at Wor- cester, Mass. Mr. Wade Hampton Hill, who from 1866 up to the time of his death on Jan. 30, 1892, was the con- trolling spirit in the affairs of the company which bears his name. He was born in New York City, Feb. 27, 1834. His family moving to Batavia, New York, he received his education in the public schools of that city. In 1848, at the age of 14, he obtained em- ployment as a clerk in a woodenware store in Lorenzo Bingham New York City. He remained there about a year and then became a clerk in the store of the Dunham Piano Co., where he remained until 1854, leaving that year to become a salesman for the Berlin & Jones' Envelope Company, remaining with them till the spring of 1865, when, at the age of 31 years, he came to Worcester, Mass., buying out the firm of Trumbull, Waters & Co., manufac- turers of envelopes, and organized the firm of Hill, Devoe & Co., his partner being his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles H. Devoe. Charles H. Devoe 1874 Charles H. Devoe Later in life Mr. Devoe was a partner of Mr. Hill for many years and became a director when the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. was incorporated. He resigned in 1898. He was born in New York City, Aug. 20, 1837, and received his education in the City of New York and, since his retirement from the business, has made his home in New York City, where he is still living at the ripe age of 88 years. The first home of the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. was in the upper story of this building, at Grafton Square. he present home of the W. H. Hill Envelope Company, Water Street, which was built in 1890. Mr. Abram A. Rheutan was born in Pater- son, N. J., on Aug. 20, 1837, and after re- ceiving a public school education he entered the employ of Duff & Keating, New York City, who were among the pioneer builders of envelope machinery in the United States. He left Duff & Keating to become Superin- tendent of the Berlin & Jones Envelope Com- pany and later he became Superintendent for Samuel Raynor & Company of New York, and from there he went to the Hill factory, at Worcester, Mass. In 1867 Mr. Abram A. Rheutan, who had known Mr. Hill in New York where he had been Superintendent of the Berlin & Jones Envelope Company, and Samuel Raynor Company, came to Worcester, as Superin- tendent of the Hill factory, a position he held for thirty-one years. He resigned in 1898 and died March 15, 1913. Mrs. A. Stringham, 1257 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, wrote me Sept. 28, 1916, that her father, J. B. Duff (see Red Envelope No. 7, pages 7, 8, 9, worked for Berlin & Jones and also for Samuel Ray nor & Co. and also for a man named White, whom he afterwards bought out, for she remembered in her youth seeing a note book, on the cover of which it read "J. B. Duff, successor to E. C. White, Water St., New York." Mrs. Stringham's uncle, Mr. Duff, brought young Rheutan, then a lad in his teens, to their home in Peekskill, New York, fresh from the farm. Later, Mr. Duff took him into the shop and still later, made him Super- intendent. Abram A. Rheutan Abram A. Rheutan 1867 1898 Mr. Rheutan was the inventor of much of the machinery in the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. factory. There is shown below the patent office model, No. 133,800, Dec. 10, 1872, one of his earliest inventions. an envelope-folding machine, which was not a self-gummer, which is shown on the following page. He next invented machine, which was Rheutan envelope-folding machine, front view (not a self-gummer) Rheutan envelope-folding machine, side view (not a self-gummer) 10 To supplement this machine he built a sealing machine, which completed the equip- ment. Rheutan Sealing Machine 11 iiitvWftii Double Reay Machine Developed by A. A. Rheutan Mr. Rheutan's completed self-gi 12 ing envelope Isaac L. Rheutan, son of Abram A. Rheutan, was born in Worcester, Mass. — was educated in the public schools of the city and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, graduating in the class of 1889. He at once be- came the Assistant Super- intendent of the W. H. Hill Co. and on the resignation of Abram A. Rheutan as Superintendent, he was appointed Superintendent of the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. Div. of the United States Envelope Co., which position he held till 1902, when he resigned to become Superintendent of the Union Envelope Co., Richmond, Va. Isaac L. Rheutan When a young man Isaac L. Rheutan Later in life Charles W. Gray 1865 — 21 years Mr. Charles W. Gray was connected with the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. for over thirty years. He was born in West Barn- stable, Mass., June 10, 1844. Was a student at Amherst College in 1860 and 1861. He taught school at Newport, R. I., in 1862 and was a Medical Cadet, U. S. Army Hos- pital, Portsmouth Grove, N. H., in 1863. In that year he was drafted but was exempted by reason of being already in the Service. He was a student in the Medical Department of Harvard University in 1863-4. For the next five years he taught school: Military Super- intendent and teacher of mathematics Alex- ander Institute, White Plains, New York; Principal Windsor Academy, Windsor, New York; Principal Deposit Academy, Deposit, New York; Sellecks Boarding School, South Norwalk, Conn. ; Principal Grafton High School, Grafton, Mass.; with Sanford & Co., booksellers and stationers, Worcester, Mass., in 1871, when he resigned to accept a position as correspondent and salesman for G. Henry Whitcomb & Co., Envelope Manufacturers, Worcester, Mass., where he remained until July 1, 1873. He then associated himself with Hill, Devoe & Co. and when Mr. Hill died in 1892, and the company was re- organized and incorporated under the name of the W. H. Hill Envelope Company, Mr. Gray was elected President and held that office until the company, on Aug. 18, 1898, became one of the subsidiaries of the United States Envelope Company. He was elected Manager of the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. Div. and continued as such till 1903, when he resigned and a little later was one of the organizers of the New Eng- land Envelope Co., Wor- cester, Mass., of which he was President at the time of his death, which oc- curred Dec. 21, 1921. Charles W. Gray 1901 When the United States Envelope Co. was organ- ized in Aug., 1898, the W. H. Hill Envelope Company became one of the Divisions of the Consolidated Company. No record of the W. H. Hill Envelope Co. would be complete without a reference to Mr. H. M. Wood, who, from 1878 to 1898, was a member of the staff of the W. H. Hill H. M. Wood about 1880 H. M. Wood Later in life Envelope Co. and who, from 1876 to 1879, had been a member of the office staff of G. Henry Whitcomb & Co. On the formation of the United States Envelope Company, in August, 1898, he became the chief clerk to the General Manager, remaining as such up to the time of his death on Jan. 7, 1917. He thus gave to the United States Envelope Co. and its constituent companies a service of over forty years. He was an intelligent, tireless worker, giving to the company every ounce of energy of which he was possessed. No day was too long for him if there was work needing to be done. JAMES LOGAN, General Manager, 16 The Hall-mark of Quality 3Hf* Srii lEnfelnp? July, 1925 Number 24 PRESS OF PLIMPTON MANUFACTURING CO. division Hartford, Conn. The Story of the Envelope by JAMES LOGAN, General Manager The United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. With the present issue of the Red Envel- ope (No. 24) the story of the beginnings of the envelope industry in the United States comes to a close. It has entailed a lot of work — ■ in fact, had the author known at the start how much work it would entail, he fears it never would have been undertaken. But now that it is finished he is glad that he has been permitted to make a record of what the pioneers in the business accom- plished in laying the foundations on which we of a later generation have built the super- structure of today. A Few Words About Paper The raw material of the envelope maker is paper; so the story of the origin and early history of paper and paper making must have an interest to envelope makers. The history of paper cannot now with accuracy be told because over its beginnings the mantle of obscurity has been thrown. Its history was not written down at the beginning and so in large measure the story of its beginnings has been lost. It is claimed that at a very early date the Chinese had a knowledge of paper making and writers have claimed to trace its history back to the second century B. C. In the eighth century the Chinese invaded Arabia and were defeated by the Arabs, who made prisoners of some of the invaders, and tradition says, from these prisoners the Arabs learned the art of paper making. This accounts for the fact that many of the earliest paper manuscripts dating from the ninth and tenth centuries are of Arabic origin. There is preserved in University Library of Leiden, a treatise on the rare and curious words in the sayings of Mahomet and his companions written in the year A. D. 866, which is probably one of the oldest paper manuscripts in existence. In the British Museum is preserved the paper manuscript of a treatise by an Arabian physician on the nourishment of the different members of the body. This is dated A. D. 960 and is the oldest dated Arabic paper manuscript of which there is any knowledge. The material from which most of the Arabic paper was made was linen; but flax, cotton and other vege- table fibres were later used. Coming down more nearly to our own time, before the invention of paper-making machin- ery, paper was made by hand and the process was about as follows : The stock, having been reduced to pulp, was stored in tubs or vats. The paper makers' mold, or form, was com- posed of two parts, one form being prac- tically a wire sieve tacked to a frame the size of the sheet to be made. The other form fitted round the edge of the wire sieve quite like a frame on a picture, being perhaps a quarter of an inch deep, which formed a dam round the edge of the sieve, thus holding the pulp in the sieve. The paper stock in the tub was agitated by the paper maker who then dipped his mold into the agitated pulp, filling the mold up to the rim of the form round the wire sieve, then shaking the mold gently, the excess of pulp would run over the sides of the mold back into the tub and what pulp remained in the mold the paper maker con- tinued to shake and, while the water was straining through the sieve by the continual shaking of the mold, the pulp was being dis- tributed evenly over the surface of the sieve, thus forming a film on the wire sieve of the proper thickness for the sheet desired. Then the form which acted as a dam round the sieve was removed and the film of pulp was peeled from the wire sieve. The films of pulp, now sheets of wet paper, were then placed between layers of felt placed in a press and the excess water squeezed out and then hung up to dry. Later the sheets were dipped in a preparation of sizing which gave to the paper a surface on which the ink would not run. Making hand-made paper was an art and required great skill and judgment first in getting the pulp to just the right consistence and then in dipping from the tub just enough pulp stock to make the thickness of the sheet desired. You can readily see how delicate a process it was to make a ream of paper say 16x21 inches 16 lb. and in making 480 sheets, which meant 480 separate dips into the tub of pulp and yet have the paper which was ordered 16 lbs. to the ream of 480 sheets not exceed in weight 16 J^2 or 17 lbs. per ream. As we have already said, the raw material of the envelope maker is paper, so as we draw the story of the envelope to a close, a few words about the early history of paper and paper making may not be amiss. The first paper-making machine installed in Holyoke, Mass., was at the Parsons Paper Company in 1854, and the first paper run off was shipped October 1, 1854, by Ethan Brooks. The Kneeland lay boy (the first ever installed) was attached to this machine in 1857. When Mr. Parsons as Manager of the mill made his plans to produce 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. of paper per day he was looked upon as a visionary plunger and he person- ally told the writer that his friends told him he could never dispose of the product. The Parsons Paper Co. was organized in the sum- mer or early autumn of 1853. The acknowl- edged projector of the scheme was Aaron Bagg, who was the first and only President during his life. The following letter from George Sumner Barton, of Rice, Barton & Fales, Worcester, Mass., gives a description of this first paper- making machine installed at Holyoke, Mass. November 17, 1920 Mr. James Logan, General Manager United States Envelope Company Worcester, Mass. Dear Mr. Logan : — I am in receipt of your letter of Novem- ber 15th. I cannot find among our old drawings, any drawing of the machine which we built for J. C. Parsons & Co. in 1854. I do find in our order book for that year a very meager description as to how the machine was built. According to our records the machine had a 62" wide wire, was fitted with six screen plates 10" x 30", the breast roll was 10" in diameter, there were two suc- tion boxes, a dandy roll, both couch rolls were 12" in diameter and two presses with rolls 12" in diameter. The rolls were of iron. The dry part consisted of four copper driers 28" in diameter, and 3 felt driers 12" in diameter. Brass paper rolls were located over the driers, eight in number, 5" in diameter. All the other felt and paper rolls about the machine were of wood. There is an entry on our record book that the machine was fitted with a "sizer with two wood rolls laid horizontally." I presume that this would correspond with what we now call a size press. The machine was also equipped with a revolving cutter with four sets of slitters and there also was a stuff pump furnished. There is a notation at the foot of the order in our order book, as follows: — "To be the best machine we have ever made." You will be interested, no doubt, to know that the price of this machine was $3,700.00; just about what it would cost today to buy a bottom couch roll for a 158" news machine. I am sorry our records are so incom- plete that I cannot give you any more definite information as to how the ma- chine was constructed. There is nothing at all in our order book to indicate how the machine was driven, but I presume was driven by means of an engine of some kind, with a flat pulley system of driving units. I hope that this information will be of some value and interest to you. Yours very truly, George Sumner Barton, Rice, Barton & Fales Machine & Iron Company The following historical data on the paper machine is taken from an address by Stuart D. Lansing, President of the Bagley & Sewell Co. of Watertown, New York, before the Paper Mill Superintendents Association at Niagara Falls, New York, January 8, 1921. "The first paper machine using a con- tinuous wire for forming a sheet of paper was patented in 1799 by Nicholas Louis Robert of France. "He turned the patents over to his em- ployer, a man named Didot. Didot did not push the matter except to interest one John Gamble, an Englishman, and Gamble in turn interested the great sta- tioners of the time and the largest paper- makers in England, Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier. "The Fourdriniers and Gamble took the machine to the Halls Engineering Establishment at Dartford, in Kent, England, which was in charge of a young man named Bryan Donkin. Bryan Donkin found a very interesting problem but one that had not been worked out, and he really is the first man to develop a machine for making paper. "Donkin worked with many trials and tribulations for about three years, at the end of which time, however, he did make a continuous, unbroken web of paper on the machine that took the name from his partners, the Fourdrinier Brothers. This machine was started about 1803. "It does not seem clear that Donkin managed to get driers on the machine until a very much later date. This is easily understood from the fact that the aim was to form a sheet of paper and go on drying it in lofts as with hand-made paper. "Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1815 to 1817 Donkin developed copper cylinders to be used in drying paper directly on the machine. These were open on the ends, turning on journals which were part of a through shaft from the front end to the back end of the drier. Inside of the copper cylinder loosely hung from this shaft was a char- coal fire pan which did not revolve, equipped with grates, etc., in which was kept going a hot charcoal fire. "This cylinder would unquestionably get heated by this means, but very irregu- larly, and just how they managed to take care of the smoke and gas is a speculation. "The irregularity of heating of this cylinder, in this way, is apparent, and in a few years Bryan Donkin conceived the idea of closing up the ends of the cylinder and putting steam in same, thus heating the entire surface to some regular temperature, and that is the method which has been used ever since with varying means of bringing the steam in and getting the condensed water out. A little later Donkin added calender rolls so that by 1823 he had a Fourdrinier machine practically so far as fundamentals are concerned that we have today, and it was as late as 1823 before a full-fledged paper machine was running in France." 10 Sample of 16 x 21—21 lbs. from the last run of paper made by Spicer Bros, Ltd., London, England, at their Sawston Mills, on the Four- drinier paper machine, set up by Fourdrinier himself over one hundred years ago. After this run of paper was finished the. old machine was consigned to the scrap heap, having served over one hundred years. "While Donkin was fussing and per- fecting his Fourdrinier, one John Dick- inson was doing the same thing with a Dickinson mold, and he made a paper machine, and it was Dickinson's machine which first came to America to the Brandywine Mill in Delaware, owned by a Mr. Gilpin. This was in 1817, and this machine did not have driers. "In 1827 the first Fourdrinier machine came to America. It was built by Bryan Donkin and was delivered in October of that year and set up at Saugerties, New York. In the same year another machine arrived during the month of December, and was set up at South Windham, Conn. "The first Fourdrinier actually built in this country seemed to have been built by a concern called Phelps & Spof- fard, in Philadelphia, Pa., having a wire, presses and driers. The next machine seemed to have been built at Brattleboro, Vermont. Then followed Goddard and Rice of Worcester, Smith & Winchester of South Windham, Conn. "There have been a good many builders since, but of those of the early days two stand out as really having added to the construction and development of the machine beyond any others of the older time builders, viz., Nelson Gavitt of Philadelphia, Pa., and I. L. Severns." The most momentous event in the paper industry was the invention of the Four- drinier machine, although the Fourdriniers spent over $300,000 in perfecting the idea and brought to such a complete success, that it has never been radically improved, yet financial ruin was their only reward. Their name attached to the most fundamental machine now in the industry is a sort of spiritual recompense. In connection with the Fourdrinier machine it is interesting to note that in July, 1920, the Spicer Bros., Ltd., London, England, paper manufacturers, at their Saws ton Mills, consigned to the scrap heap a Fourdrinier machine, erected by Fourdrinier himself over one hundred years ago and in their house organ "Notes for Buyers" they make this note of its passing: "Anno Domini had left its mark on the frame work and all concerned had come to the regretful conclusion that this old Sawston worker must rest, and another machine take up its tale in the world's work. It had done its work well. It had worked years before even the oldest em- ployee was born, and even at the last, broken in frame, as it was, its work was perfect. There were sad thoughts in the minds of some of its co-workers, when the dawn of the morning brought its life work to a close. "It was probably the oldest working paper-making machine in the country." Hand-made paper as a commercial proposi- tion is not made in this country at the present time. The last manufacturer to make hand- 12 Sample of 16 x 20—30 lbs. Cream Wove From one of the last lots of hand-made paper made by L. L. Brown Paper Co., Adams, Mass., U. S. A. made paper in this country was the L. L. Brown Paper Company, of Adams, Mass., and they discontinued its manufacture in July, 1907. Walter Norman who made the last hand-made paper for L. L. Brown Co., Adams, Mass., July 31, 1907 The hand-made paper department of the L. L. Brown Paper Company was, and for years had been, in charge of the Norman family, who were all hand-made paper makers/ and at the time its manufacture was discon- tinued Mr. Walter Norman was foreman of the department. His father, Wm. Norman, was an English paper maker, who came to America from Wells, England, in 1880, and at one time six members of the Norman family were employed at the Adams mill. Wm. Norman learned the trade of hand-made paper making from his father, James Norman, in a mill near Exeter, England. Mr. James Norman and his brother for years made the Whatman drawing paper at Maidstone Mills, Kent, Sample of 19 x 24—44 lbs. Blue Wove From one of the last lots of hand-made paper made by L L. Brown Paper Co., Adam3, Mass., U. S. A. England. Mr. Walter Norman, son of Wil- liam Albert Norman, was born in Wells, Eng- land, March 29, 1870, and learned the trade from his father. The picture on page 14 was taken at the L. L. Brown Paper Co. mill in Adams, Mass. Walter Norman stands at the vat at the right, his brother, Ernest John Norman faces him in the center of the room, his uncle, Wm. Squires, is bending over the pile of paper, while his wife, Katherine Norman, is sorting paper at the window. In 1917, Mr. Norman told the writer of the day they stopped making hand-made paper. These four people were the interested parties. At that time he was thirty-seven years of age and had practically never done anything but make hand-made paper and now the world had run past him and he must begin again and learn a new trade. They all gathered round the vat while he made four envelope flats out of the pulp. They dried them on the steam pipes and each took one of them and he has his now. That noon he left North Adams and went to Boston, his one desire to be as far away from North Adams as possible, for this was a tragedy in his life. There is a party at Marlborough on Hud- son, New York, by name Dard Hunter, who, in his small mill, a cut of which is shown on page 16, makes hand-made paper for his own use and this is the only hand-made paper made in America at the present time, his product being about 500 sheets per week. 15 IfftSM&aS ' T ¥ . SsH^ipk-tv '^Sitit * Btlfc^SpS^ $p ' ' * fifefe^ wB® &dL Six. ..,*, -y^rJ^'k ""'■ ■BT'*' " "%&! 8 ff ' "•'--- '■*=" W : '4^^ r ^,-» ."* '^Sfev ' . x ■ ^il^plw ■" -,^l lili^MM^ttt^M^ttM^i «-^*> ; ' : ^ BK M. in-: r.5 - li.^^*"" 4 ttHni s PP^ipihB f ^PfMBmM : - '» ^ffiTj xill^B ,. , :; lv : ■'.. >■■ ■ - ; 16 The decade which closed the nineteenth century was the great era of consolidation of the industries in the United States. On August 18, 1898, ten of the leading envelope factories in the United States were consolidated under the name of the United States Envelope Company No. Division Location 1 Logan, Swift & Brigham Envelope Co. Worcester, Mass. 2 United States Envelope Co. Holyoke, Mass. 3 White, Corbin & Co. Rockville, Conn. 4 Plimpton Mfg. Co. Hartford, Conn. 5 Morgan Envelope Co. Springfield, Mass. 6 National Envelope Co. Waukegan, 111. 7 Morgan Stationery Co. Springfield, Mass. 8 P. P. Kellogg & Co. Springfield, Mass. 9 Whitcomb Envelope Co. Worcester, Mass. 10 W. H. Hill Envelope Co. Worcester, Mass. The End 17 INDEX INDEX Abbe, James T., XXI, 15 Ackerman & Miller, XIX, 6 Allen Mfg. Co., XII, 25; XIX, 3, 4; XIX, 11, 12, 14, j.y, Ay) 'j Zi\. Allen Rotary Printing Press, XIV, 16; XVI, 18 20- XIX, 10, 14, 15, 19; XXII, 23 ' Allen, Stevens & Co., XV, 8 Allen, B. F., XV, 8 Allen, Edwin, XVII, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 26, 27 30 32; XIX, 4, 6, 7, 10, 19, 21 Allen Rotary Envelope Machine, XIX, 12, 13 Ames Plow Co., IX, 43 American Antiquarian Society, III, 14 American Writing Paper Co., XVI, 27 American Papeterie Co., XVI, 32, 33 American Typefounders Co., XVII, 11 American Steel & Wire Co., XVIII, 16 American Society Mechanical Engineers, XVIII, 17 Andrews, Mary, Raymond Shipman, VI, 16 Anderson, Robert, XXII, 6. Ankele, Leonard, V, 15 Ankele, Robert, V, 15, 16 Appleton's New American Encyclopedia, XVII, 24 Ailing & Cory, XXII, 5 Armstrong, John, V, 14, XXII, 11 Andross, Wm. W., XII, 20; XVI, 9 Arnold Chain Dryer, IX, 13, 35, 36, 37 Arnold, James Greene, IV, 14; V, 14; VI, 20; VII 7 21, 22; IX, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 26| XXI, 23 Black, Robert J., XVI, 47 Baker, Chas., XV, 20, 24 Ball, George, XXI, 17 Ball, James, XXI, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Ball, James E., XXI, 17 Balmain, XXII, 20 Bartlett, Richard, XXI, 3, 4, 5 in Bartlett, R. & S. Raynor, XXI, 3, 4 Barber & Ellis Co., XXII, 7 Barton, Edmund M., Ill, 14 Barton, Judge Ira M., Ill, 14 Barnes & Co., A. S., XV, 5, 13 Bay State Envelope Co., IX, 3, 15, 17 Blackhall, E. W., XXII, 6 Bryant, Wm. Cullen, XV, 20 Beaman, A. C, XXI, 18, 19 Bell, George H., XXI, 22 Beneke, Louis F., XXII, 17 Berlin, Jacob, V, 7, 8 Berlin, Henry C, V, 7, 8, 9, 10; XV, 20; XVIII, 17 Berlin & Jones Envelope Co., V, 7, 8, 12, 22, 24, 26; VII, 8, 10, 13; XII, 22, 25; XIV, 7; XVI, 13, 14; XVI, 31; XVIII, 4, 10, 17; XIX, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27; XXI, 13; XXII, 6; XXIII, 5, 7, 8 Bergner, Theo., V, 14 Belding Bros. Silk Co., XII, 20 Bell & Gould, XVII, 24; XXI, 21, 22, 23, 24 Brewer of Brighton, III, 8 Brewer & Co., H. K., Ill, 12 Brewer, John, III, 12 Breck, Dr., XVI, 11 Bishop's History of American Manufact'rs, XVII, 4 Brigham, Fred C, XVI, 43 Brigham, John S., IX, 42 British Museum, III, 7 Bingham, Lorenzo, XXIII, 4 Birnie Paper Co., XVI, 31 Bouvier, Louis P., XXI, 26; XXII, 6, 7, 8 Bouvier & Hutchinson, XXI, 26; XXII, 6 Bork, Wm. H., XXII, 5 Bork, M. M., XXII, 5 Bogue, David, IV, 12 Byron, Lord, VI, 20 Boynton, John, IX, 5, 6, 8, 9, 43 Boynton & Whitcomb, IX, 14 Boston & Worcester R. R., IX, 7 Brown, XV, 18 Bonney, A. L., XVI, 53 Bullen, Henry L., XVII, 11 Buffalo Paper & Warehouse Co., XXII, 3 Burdick, Edwin L., XXII, 5 Burdick Envelope Co., XXII, 5, 6 Buffalo Envelope Co., XXII, 6 Burnett, Bishop, III, 7 Burke, E. W., XII, 42, 43 Butler & Bryan, V, 12; XVIII, 4 Buechner, H. E. S., XVI, 48, 49 Carnegie, Andrew, III, 3, 4 Chase, Stephen A., VI, 19 Caloric Engine, IX, 17 Carter, Rice & Co., IX, 41 Clark & Co., J. H., IX, 42 Carlisle Thread Co, XII, 20 Chapin, Chester W., XII, 21; XVI, 5, 25, 26 Chapman, Fred'k W, XII, 44, 45 Chamberlih, Henry, XIV, 7, 22 Chapman, Maro S, XIV, 25 Chapman, Percival W., XIX, 33 Castle, Henry M, XVI, 25 Centennial Exposition, 1876, XVIII, 5; XXI, 14 Clinton, Mass., XVIII, 13 Clinton, Iowa, XVIII, 13 Coleman E, IV, 15, 16, 18 Cotton, W. W, V, 14; XV, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22; XVII, 23; XXI, 5, 6 Clothes Wringer (Swift's), IX, 22, 23, 24, 25 Corbin, Lewis A, XII, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 24, 26, 46; XIV, 4 Converse H, XII, 10 Cook & Co, D. B, XV, 5 Conn. Valley Historical Society, XVI, 4 Cohen, Edw. E, XVI, 52 Cohen, Henry, XXII, 19, 21, 23, 24 Cooley, J. G, XVII, 10, 11; XIX, 6 Cohen, Chas. J, XIX, 25; XXII, 19, 21, 23, 24 Competition Unintelligent, XX Cooper, John W, XXII, 11 Crockett's Court, XXII, 20 Cluff, M. J, IX, 24, 25 Dangerfield, William, V, 7, 8 Daggett, Albert, XV, 17 Davis & Wool worth, XV, 5, 7 Day, Wm. O, XVI, 17, 41, 42 Day, Robt. W, XVI, 40, 41 Day, Francis A, XVI, 46 Day, Edward H, XVI, 46 DeValayer, III, 6 De La Rue & Co., Ill, 12; IV, 4, 12; XVII, 25, 26 De La Rue, Warren, III, 20; IV, 4 Dennison Mfg. Co., IX, 27 Dyer, H. K., IX, 28 Deardon, John C, XVI, 25 DeVinne Theodore L., XVII, 14 Dempsey & O'Toole, XVII, 16; XVIII, 9 Devoe, Chas. H., XVIII, 5, 6 Dickinson & Co., John, XXII, 8 Dourgea, Robert, XVI, 25 Duff, J. B., V, 11, 23; VII, 8; XXII, 22; XXIII, 8 Duff & Keating, V, 11, 14, 23, 24, 26; VII, 7, 9; IX, 18; XV, 15, 21; XVI, 7, 8, 12; XXII, 22; XXIII, 7 Dunham, John, XVII, 7, 8 Earle & Co., T. K., IV, 22 Eaton, Hurlbut Paper Co., XVI, 31 Eaton, Crane & Pike Co., XVI, 31 Eames & Co., D. H., IX, 42 Edwards, L. & E., XXI, 19 Evans, John, XV, 12 Estabrook Steel Pen Co., XV, 16 Ely, W. G., XII, 25; XIX, 11 Edison, Thomas A., XII, 40 Edison Co., XVI, 19; XVII, 18, 19 Elsworth Zouaves, N. Y., XVII, 31 Exposition Panama Pacific, XIII, 6 Eureka Clothes Squeezer (Swift's) IX, 22, 23, 24, 25 Fairbanks & Co., J. L., Ill, 10 Flanders Field, XI, 17, 18 Fairchilds, Jarvis M., XXI, 19, 25 French Envelope Machine, V, 10 Fenner & Appleton, XIX, 29 Fisher, F. H., XXII, 5 Frink, Cyrus L., XVI, 7, 8 Frink, Mrs. C. E., XVIII, 16 Foster & Co., Calvin, V, 6; IX, 9, 18 Graves, F. C, IX, 18; XII, 22; XIV, 7, 8, 9, 11, 26; XV, 21, 22; XVII, 22 Grant, Sarah A., XII, 7 Grant & Co., S. A., XII, 46 Gray, Carl A., XV, 7 Gray, C. W., XXIII, 14, 15 Graham, John S., XV, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18: XVII, 17- XVIII, 9 Glasgow Thread Co., XII, 20 Geraghty, Chas. H., XVI, 51 Geyer Stationer, XVIII, 12 Gillespy, H., XXI, 27 Griffin, Timothy, XVIII, 11 Gillot Steel Pen Co., Joseph, XV, 16 Goddard, Rice & Co., IV, 17, 19, 20; IX, 14 Grout, Jonathan, IV, 22; XXI, 18 Goodell, John M., IX, 29 Gould, Ezra, XVII, 27; XIX, 7 Goodale, E. W., XVIII, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Gould, Alexander Stephen XXI, 21, 22 Gould, Irene, XXI, 22 Gould, W. Reid, XXI, 22 Hall, Capt. Basil, III, 12 Hamilton Mfg. Co., XVII, 12 Hartshorn & Trumbull, IV, 23; XV, 5; XXIII, 3 Hartshorn, C. W. & Geo. F., IV, 23 Hartford Mfg. Co., XIV, 6, 24; XIX, 8 Harter, Frederick A., XVII, 19 Hawes, Russell L., IV, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; V, 14 XVII, 15; XXI, 24; XXIII, 3, 4 Hawley Publishing Co., J. R., XVI, 8, 10 Hegeman, Chas. F., XVI, 48, 49 Hyde Park Exposition, III, 20; IV, 4, 8, 9, 12, 20 Hill, Sir Rowland, III, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18; IV, 4, 5 Hill, Edwin, III, 20; IV, 4, 5 Hill, George Birkbeck, IV, 4 Hill, De La Rue, IV, 6, 8, 9, 19 Hill, Devoe & Co., IV, 23; XXIII, 3, 5, 14 Hill, W. H., IV, 23; XXIII, 3, 4, 5 Hill Env. Co., W. H., IV, 23; XXIII, 3, 14 Hill Env. Co., W. H. Div., IV, 23; IX, 18; XV, 5; XXIII, 3, 6, 15 Hicks, Oliver H, XVI, 51, 52 Hitchcock, John F., XVI, 48 Hill, Wade Hampton, XXIII, 4, 5 Holt, Clark, XII, 20 Holmes & Ely, XII, 25; XIX, 3, 20 VII Hoe & Co., R., XIV, 7 Holyoke Env. Co., XXI, 15, 16 Hurlbut, Elizur S., XII, 7, 13 Huntington, R. Thomas, XXII, 15 International Exposition, London 1851, IV, 4, 8, 9, 12, 20 Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Co., IX, 16 Iliff, C. W., XXII, 8 Jewell, Hon. Marshall, XIV, 11 Jewett & Co., E. R., XXII, 3, 4 Jones, Geo. H., V, 12 Jones, Col. Edw. F., V, 12 Johnson, Mrs. Iver, IX, 16 Johnson Cycle Co., Iver, IX, 16 Johnson, R. B., XII, 23 Johnson & Co., L., XVII, 5 Karcheski, IV, 19 Keating & Duff, V, 11 Keating, T. W., V, 23 Keating, J. M. D., V, 24, 25; VII, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; XVI, 9 Kellogg, George, XII, 9 Knee & Murlless, XII, 18 Keeney, Frank, XII, 24, 25, 42 Kellogg & Co., P. P., XVI, 4, 29, 45 Kelley, Dan J., XVI, 50 Kitchener, Field Marshal, XI, 8 Lamb, III, 7 Lamport, C. H., XXI, 19, 20 Lane, C. J., XV, 7, 11, 12 Laubscher, Martin, XII, 45 Lawrence, Wm, XXIII, 4 Lawrence, Mr., XIX, 28, 29, 31, 32 Leavenworth, Wm., XVII, 11 Lee, Charles, XII, 6 Lever, Charles, III, 7 Leonard, XII, 27 Lester, Daniel M., XII, 25; XIX, 12, 20, 21, 22 Lester & Wasley Co., XIX, 3, 4, 33 Lester & Wasley, XII, 25, 26; XVI, 13, 14; XVII, 32; XIX, 3, 4, 12, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25; XIX, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33; XXII, 23 Lincoln, Abraham, VI, 19 Lorrequer, Harrv, III, 7 Low, W. H., V, 14 Lodge, Hon. Henry Cabot, VI, 22 Logan, Swift & Brigham Env. Co., IX, 13, 42; XVI 43 Logan, James, IX, 41, 42; XX Lowe, Geo. H., IX, 41 Logan & Lowe Env. Co., IX, 41, 42; XIX 27 Lyon & Co., Wm. P., XII, 15, 17; XXI, 11 Lyon & Raynor, XV, 15; XXI, 3, 5, 7, 8 Lyon & Bro., Chas. H., XXI, 5 Lockwood, W. E., & E. D., XXII, 9, 10, 11, 15 16 Lockwood, Charles, XXII, 11 Lockwood Folding Box Co., XXII, 11 Lockwood Env. Folding Machine, XXII, 12 Lockwood Mfg. Co., XXII, 12, 16 Loring & Co., Josiah, III, 10 Marshall, John E., XXII, 4 Marshall, Charles D., XXII, 4, 5 Maxwell & Co., E. N., Ill, 10 Maclaren, Ian, VI, 23 Martin, J. P., IX, 22 Martin, Edmund F., XVII, 19 Martine, John A., XVIII, 10 Martin, William Irwin, XXI, 8, 9 Martine, Marie Antoinette, XVIII, 10 Merrick & Son, Samuel, XXII, 16 McSpedon & Baker, XIV, 7, 14; XV, 14, 19, 20, 24; XVII, 23; XXI, 5. McSpedon & Robbins, XV, 14, 19 McSpedon, Thomas, XV, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28 Merrill, O. K., XVI, 25 Mercantile Corporation XVII, 16 Meade, S. H., XIX, 12 Middle West Supply Co., XVII, 16; XIX, 8 McB. Dorris Fred, XXII, 6 Morrill & Co., Geo. H., IX, 23 Morgan & Co., R. L., IX, 45 Morgan, Elisha, XII, 21; XIV, 25; XVI, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 25, 26, 27 Morgan & Co., E., XII, 21; XVI, 3, 6, 28, 31 Morgan Env. Co., XIV, 13, 18, 23, 25; XVI, 3, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 29, 32, 34, 40; XVII, 16; XIX, 11, 21, 26; XXI, 15; XXII, 6 Morgan Env. Co. Div., XII, 21 ; XIV, 32; XVI, 3, 43 Moore, P. R., XII, 24; XIV, 4 Moffatt, David H., XV, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Morgan, J. Pierpont, XV, 15; XXI, 9 Morgan, Capt. Miles, XVI, 4 Morgan, Tissue Div., XVI, 4 Morgan, Fine Sta. Div., XVI, 4, 28, 45, 46 Morgan Env. Co., "Old Guard," XVI, 24 McCallum, Erastus, XII, 20 Morgan, Chas. H., XVIII, 16, 17 Morgan, XVII, 16; XIX, 11 Museum, British, III, 7 Murlless, Foundry, XII, 13, 18 Murphy & Souther, XVI, 30 Murphy & Co., John A., XVI, 30 Murray, James R., XVII, 13 Museum, U. S. Env. Co., XIX, 15 National Papeterie Co., XVI, 29, 30 National Blank Book Co., XXI, 19 Negbaur, Louis, V, 13; XVIII, 4, 5, 21 Nesbitt & Co., Geo. F., XV, 16; XVII, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28; XVII, 30, 31, 32; XVIII, 8, 9, 20; XIX, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; XXI, 23 New York Times, XVII, 20 New York Evening Post, XVII, 20, 27, 29 New England Env. Co., XXIII, 15 Niagara Env. Co., XXII, 4, 5 Nichols, Elijah, XVI, 30 Norton Door Check Co., IX, 43 Nugent, Edward F., XVI, 47 Ogilvie, Sir James, III, 7 Orcutt, William R., XII, 8, 9 Orcutt, Harry F. L., XII, 40 Outlook Envelope, XVI, 22 Page Wood Type Co., XVII, 10 Parkhurst, W. E., XVIII, 14 Parks, Robert, XXII, 11 Packer Bros., XXII, 16 Park, J. K., IV, 14, 15 Park & Watson, IV, 14, 15, 17, IS Parsons, J. C, IV, 21; IX, 14 x Parsons Paper Co., IV, 21; IX, 14; XII, 27- XV 14- XVI, 7 Patents System, V, 18, 19 Pratt & Whitney Co., XII, 33 Payne & Co., W. E., XII, 46 Panama Pacific Exposition, XIII, 6 Papeterie Business, XVI, 28, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 39 40 Pershing, John, XI, 9 Perkins, Wm. M., XXI, 9, 10, 27 Perkins Envelope Co., XXI, 10, 28 Preble, Walter E., XXI, 25 Pette, S. E., XXII, 10, 11 Peterman, Wm., XXII, 11 Penny Post Act, III, 15, 18 Preble & Co., J. Q., XII, 17; XV, 15; XVI, 31; XXI, 10, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27; XXII, 7 Prescott, Wm. H., XII, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 42, 45, 46- XIV, 4 Prescott, Plimpton & Co., XII, 24; XIV, 3, 4, 9 Prescott, James, XII, 46 Printers Warehouse, XVII, 10; XIX, 6 Pierce, F. G., XXII, 5 Philadelphia & Reading Stationer, XXII, 17 Pierson, V, 7 Pitney, John, XII, 18 Plimpton Mfg. Co., IX, 18; XII, 15, 22, 24; XIV, 3 Plimpton Mfg. Co., XIV, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31; XV, 21; XVI, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 33; XVII, 16, 22; XVIII, 9; XIX, 9, 11,21, 25, Plimpton, Linus B., XII, 24; XIV, 4, 11, 26, 31 Plimpton & Co., L. B., XIV, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28 Plimpton Env. & Paper Co., XIV, 4, 5, 8 Plimpton, Frederick, XIV, 26 Plimpton, James M., XIV, 31 Plimpton, Oliver, XIV, 11 Pittman, Edward, XIV, 22, 24; XIX, 8, 25 Pierce, Mrs. Emily Robinson, XVI, 24 Philatelic Gazette, XVII, 4, 27; XIX, 9 Prosser, Charles, XXII, 4 Postage Stamps in Great Britain, III, 18 Postal Card Contract, XVI, 14 Pope, George M., XVI, 25 Powers & Bro., L. J., XVI, 28, 29, 33 Puffer, Milton G., V, 14; XII, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,21,22,23,43; XIV, 9; XV, 15; XXI, 6, 24 Quackenbush, L. G., XVII, 4, 27; XIX, 9 Raynor, Hiram, XXI, 5 Raynor & Martin, XXI, 3, 9 Raynor Envelope Co., XXI, 3, 9, 10, 28 Ray & Taylor, XXII, 6 Rabbate, V, 10, 12; XVIII, 3 Rau, Martin, V, 15; XIV, 7; XVIII, 5, 6; XXI, 15 Raynor & Co., Samuel, XII, 17; XIV, 7; XV, 15, 21, 23; XXIII, 7,8 Rau & Ankele, XIV, 7; XVIII, 5 Rau & Ekstine, XIV, 7; XVIII, 5 Rau, Emanuel, XVII, 22, 23, 24; XVIII, 6 Raynor & Perkins Envelope Co., XIX, 15; XXI, 3, 4, 10, 27 Raynor, Wm. P., XXI, 3, 8, 10 Raynor, Samuel, XIV, 7; XVII, 23; XX, 4; XXI, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15 Raynor, Samuel & Co., XXI, 3 Raynor, S. & Bartlett, R., XXI, 4 Raynor, H. & S., XXI, 3, 5 Reid, Mary, XXI, 22 Reineman, G. L., XXII, 6 Rheutan's Sealing Machine, XXIII, 11 Rheutan's Double Machine, XXII, 12 Rheutan, Isaac L., XXIII, 13 Reliance Env. Machine, XXII, 7, 8 Remond, IV, 12, 19 Reay Folding Machine, XIV, 15; XVIII, 6 Reay, Geo. H., V, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18; IX, 17, 18, 27, 31, 32, 33; XII, 21; XIV, 7, 8, 9, 11; XV, 15, 16, 21, 22; XVI, 9, 11; XVII, 4, 16, 17; XVIII, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24; XIX, 10, 26; XXI, 24; XXII, 22 Rheutan, Abram A., IX, 18; XXIII, 7, 8, 10, 13 Reay Stamping & Embossing Machine, XVIII, 23, 24 Reay, Raphael Martine, XIV, 9; XVIII, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19 Reay, Marie Antoinette, XVIII, 18, 19 Rice, Grantland, III, 6 Rice, Barton & Fales Co., IX, 14 Rich, Julius, XII, 20 Richards, Francis H., XII, 32, 34, 40 Richards Envelope Machine, XII, 34, 40 Rice, B. F., XVIII, 16 Richmond, Joseph, XIX, 28, 32 XII Robinson, David W., XXI, 19 Rogers, Mercy B., XII, 14 Root, Cynthia, XII, 14, 15; XIV, 9, 10 Rose, E. K., XII, 20, 24; XIV, 4 Rockville Envelope Co., XII, 21; XIV, 7; XVI 5 9 Rockville Hospital, XII, 45 Robinson, Leo S., XIII, 19 Robinson, Mrs. Jennie Slater, XVI, 24 Roberts, R. H., XIV, 26, 27, 30, 32 Roll of Honor in the War, XI, 19 to 119 Russell, George A., XVI, 29, 30 Shaw Co., J. G., XXI, 19 Saugerties Mfg. Co., XXI, 27 Spangler, E. J., XXII, 11, 17, 18 Spangler, E. J. & Co., XXII, 11, 17, 18 Spangler, Christian P., XXII, 17 Spangler, Charles, XXII, 17, 18 Stanton, Edwin M., VI, 19 Stamped Envelope Works, XIV, 12 Stamped Envelope Contract, XIV, 13, 16, 22, 23, 24- XVI, 18, 26; XVII, 16, 21; XVIII, 8 Swain, H. Chapman, XIV, 32 Slater, Wm. D., XVI, 6, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 43, 44; XIX, 10, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; XXI, 15; XXII, 6 Stamped Envelopes Authorized, XVII, 21 Stamping Machine, XVIII, 24 Sheffield & Son, J. B., XXI, 24 Sheffield, Wm. R., XXI, 25, 26 Sheffield Mfg. Co., XXI, 26, 27 Stevenson, Robt. Louis, VII, 2 Sherman, John A., IX, 43 Sherman Envelope Co., IX, 43 Shelton, Edward, XII, 20 Shelton & Andross, XII, 20, 21; XIV, 7; XVI, 5, 9 Seymour Paper Co., XV, 16 Spencer & Co., Thos. H., XVI, 6 Seymour Bros., XVI, 13 Sleigh, Wm. B., XVI, 42 Spear, Joseph, XVII, 3, 4 Sneden, John, XVIII, 10 Stringham, Mrs. A., XXIII, 8 Swift, Dean, III, 7 Swift, Henry D., IV, 5; VI, 17; IX, 15, 19, 21, 27, 28, 29, 42 Swift, D. Wheeler, IV, 5; IX, 11, 16, 19, 21, 22, 27, 29, 39, 42; XVI, 43 XIII Swift, H. D. & D. W. f VI, 18; VII, 14, 17, 18, 20, 23: IX, 20, 30, 34, 37; XIV, 8 Swift Chain Dryer, IX, 35, 36, 37 Swift Round Table Machine, IX, 30, 31 Swift Drum Dryer, IX, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40 Swift Sealing Machine, IX, 32, 33 Spiers, Mary, IX, 16 Stickney, John N., XII, 7, 8, 24; XIV, 4 Skinner, Francis, XII, 9 Singer Sewing Machine, XIV, 22 Sickles, General Daniel E., XV, 23, 24 Springfield United Electric Light Co., XVI, 41 Smith, L. F., XVI, 44 Sickles, Gerhard, XVII, 22, 24; XXI, 23 Scribner, Charles E., XII, 40 Scott-Siddons, Mrs. XVI, 31, 32 Talcott, George, XII, 9, 10 Taylor & Mossman, XVI, 8 Taylor, Nichols & Co., XVI, 30 Taylor, John E., "Deacon", XVI, 30 Taylor Mfg. Co., XVI, 31; Taylor, Atkins & Co., XVI, 31 Treat, Horace, XII, 18 Tvner, George N., XXI, 15 Tibbs, John, IV, 12 Thompson, Terrv, XII, 20 Thompson, Elihu, XII, 40 Toilet Paper Department, XVI, 16, 40, 46 Towne & Dodd, XXI, 18, 19 Tobev, Samuel, XXII, 9 Tobey, Caleb S., XXII, 9 Turnbull, Sir William, III, 7 Trumbull, Joseph, IV, 23 Trumbull & Waters, IV, 23; XXIII, 3, 5 Tucker, Chas. R., VI, 19 Turner, Lizzie, XII, 23 Turner, John, XIX, 11 Tucker, Risley, XXII, 5, 6 United States Envelope Co., V, 5, 6, 15; IX, 13, 44, 45; XII, 16, 21, 24, 27, 33, 41, 42, 47; XIV, 26, 31, 32; XV, 5; XVI, 4, 17, 21, 26, 40, 42; XIX, 10, 15; XXI, 27; XXIII, 13, 15 United Stamp Co., Herald, Chicago, XVIII, 23 XIV Unintelligent Competition, XX Union Envelope Co., XXIII, 13 United States Stamped Env. Co., XVI, 18; XVII, 15, 16, 17 Vandome, XXII, 4 Vines, John, XXI, 16, 17 Volker & Felthousen, XXI, 26; XXII, 7 Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co., XVIII, 16 War Record, XI, 19 to 119 Waterloo, Sir Henrv, XIX, 32 . Waterlow, Sidney H, XXII, 15 Watt, James, III, 3 Wafers, the Use of, III, 11, 15 Watson, C. S., IV, 14, 15 Waters, Lucius, IV, 23 Waymouth, Thomas V., VII, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 35, 36, 37; XII, 22, 25; XIX, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 26; XXI, 13; XXIII, 15 Wakefield, Sylvanus, XII, 12 Wasley, F. R., XII, 25; XIX, 20 Waterlow & Co., XII, 33, 40 Wells, Darius, XVII, 11 Wheeler, Justice, XVIII, 11 West, Wm. G., V, 8, 9 ' West & Berlin, V, 9, 12; XVIII, 3 Westinghouse, George, XII, 40 Weston, Edward, XII, 40 Window Envelope, XVI, 22 Wight, Emerson, XVI, 25 Winter, Edson P., XVI, 45 Wilson, George A., XVI, 52 Whittemore, M. M., XIX, 12 Wickersham Nail Co, XIX, 20 White, E. C, XXIII, 8 Whitcomb, George Henry, V, 5; IX, 44 Whitcomb Envelope Co, V, 5; IX, 3, 41, 42, 43, 44; XXIII, 14 Whitcomb, David, V, 5, 6; IX, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 18, 43, 44 Whitcomb, Margaret Cummings, V, 5 Whitcomb Env. Co. Div, V, 6; IX, 3, 34, 35 Whitcomb & Co, Geo. Henry, VII, 14; IX, 3, 9, 15, 18, 19, 27, 32, 33, 41, 42; XIV, 8 xv Whitcomb, Henry E., IX, 44, 45 White & Stickney, XII, 3, 8, 11, 13, 24 White & Corbin, XII, 3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 46; XV, 14, 15; XXI 6, 12 White, Corbin & Co., XII, 3, 26, 31, 32, 33, 42, 44 XIV, 4, 7, 8, 9 White, Corbin & Co. Div., XII, 3, 26, 41, 42, 47 XVI, 5 White, Cyrus, XII, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 18, 26, 28, 29, 30 XIV, 4 White, Corbin, Bouve & Co., XII, 46 Wilson, President Woodrow, XI, 7; XIII, 5 Wilson, Kitchener and Pershing, XI, 6 Wickham, Horace John, XIV, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24; XVI, 19, 20 Whitney Arms Co., XIV, 14 Wickham, Clarence Horace, XIV, 21, 22; XVI, 19, 20,21; XIX, 8 Wickham Folding Machine, XIV, 17, 18, 19, 20 Whiting Machine Co., XVI, 7 White, James, XVII, 19 Woolworth, Calvin C, XV, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18,20 Woolworth & Graham, XV, 3, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22; XVII, 17, 23; XVIII, 9 Woolworth, Ains worth & Co., XV, 3 Woolworth & Moffatt, XV, 5 Wood, F. L., XVI, 49 Wolf Bros., XXII, 24 Wood, Harry M., XXIII, 15 Working Hours in N. E., 1862, IV, 7 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, IX, 5, 43 Worcester Horse Railroad Co., IX, 42 Woodford, E. H., XII, 43, 44 Wood, Harry J.,, XIV, 31, 32 Young & Co., Edward, XVII, 4 r 34 7- 9 <* •*£&. < X *"% J- ^ ^ < .-4.° t *i«(aw*- *> \> • 1 V- t. ^ 6* ••••♦. ECKMAN JDERY INC. |§ 9k AUG 90